“WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE THAT PERSON”, TRUMP SAYS
In insisting on the right to help choose Iran‘s next leader – meant to be a senior Shi’ite Muslim cleric selected by a panel of religious experts – Trump made his most explicit demand for control over a country of more than 90 million people.
The remarks could make it more difficult to end the war quickly in a deal that would leave Iran‘s system of clerical rule in place.
“We’re going to have to choose that person along with Iran. We’re going to have to choose that person,” Trump said on Thursday in a telephone interview with Reuters.
Israel has said openly that it aims to overthrow Iran‘s ruling system. Washington has been more circumspect, saying its goal is to eliminate Iran‘s ability to project force beyond its borders, while also inviting Iranians to rise up and topple their government.
There was no immediate Iranian response to Trump’s remarks. Iran has cast the war as an unprovoked attack and describes the killing of its leader, Khamenei, as an assassination.
It says the panel that will choose the new leader is conducting its work.
Iranian officials initially said the new leader could be chosen soon and the leading candidate was Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, a powerful hardliner. But plans for a quick dynastic succession may have stalled since a three-day period of mourning for Khamenei was postponed indefinitely on Wednesday.
Some Iranians openly celebrated the death of Khamenei, weeks after security forces under his control killed thousands of protesters in the worst domestic unrest since the revolutionary era. But there has been little sign of opposition to the authorities during the airstrikes, with activists saying it is not safe to return to the streets.