Trump's desire to influence Iran's next leader deemed 'unacceptable' by Khamenei's son

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by declaring his intention to influence Irans next leader, rejecting Mojtaba Khamenei as unacceptable and urging Iranian forces to lay down arms, escalating tensions in the region.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly declared his intention to influence the succession of Iran's leadership following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In interviews with NBC News and Axios, Trump insisted that the current leadership in Iran must be removed and that he should participate directly in choosing its replacement.

Trump's Statements on Iran Leadership and Intervention

During his interview with NBC News, Trump stated that the objective was to "clean out everything" within Iran's leadership structure. In the Axios interview, he drew a comparison between Iran and his previous involvement in Venezuela, implying that his actions influenced the current government there. Trump also addressed members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, urging them to stop hostilities and surrender:

"I'm once again calling on members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military and police to lay down their arms. They are only going to be killed. Now is the time to stand up for the Iranian people and help take back your country. You have a chance after all these years to take back your country. We will give you immunity, and we will put you on the right side of history. You will be safe with total immunity or face absolutely guaranteed death."

Trump specifically criticized Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, describing him as "unacceptable" as Iran's next leader and calling him a "lightweight." He emphasized that he would not accept a successor who continues Khamenei's policies, warning that doing so could lead the United States back into conflict within five years.

Iran's Leadership Succession

Iranian authorities have delayed the announcement of Khamenei's successor for several days. Political figures in Tehran have suggested that a decision could be made soon, reflecting ongoing deliberations among Iran's political elite.

U.S. House Rejects War Powers Resolution

In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly defeated a war powers resolution intended to restrict the president's ability to carry out military actions against Iran without Congressional approval. The resolution failed by a vote of 212-219. House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that limiting presidential authority would be "dangerous," emphasizing that current military operations involving Iran are "limited" and that the mission is "nearly accomplished."

Critics, including Representative Jamie Raskin, argued that the Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war, suggesting that Trump exceeded his power by initiating strikes in Iran that escalated tensions. The vote largely followed party lines, with minor cross-party support. Even if approved, the resolution would have faced hurdles in the Senate, which had already rejected a similar measure, and Trump indicated he would have vetoed it.

Regional Escalations

Israel announced a series of extensive strikes on Iranian infrastructure in Tehran and carried out operations against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including command centers and UAV storage facilities. The Lebanese Prime Minister called on the international community to intervene, warning of a potential humanitarian crisis and emphasizing that the Lebanese state and population "did not choose this war."

Key Developments

• Trump seeks an active role in selecting Iran's next leader and rejects Mojtaba Khamenei as a successor.
• He called on the Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms, offering immunity for cooperation.
• The U.S. House narrowly rejected a resolution limiting presidential war powers concerning Iran.
• Israel conducted large-scale strikes in Tehran and Lebanon against Iranian and Hezbollah infrastructure.
• Lebanese authorities warn of a potential humanitarian crisis amid escalating regional conflict.

Sources:

• Reuters: Trump says he needs to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader, Axios reports
• Axios Exclusive: Trump says he must be involved in picking Iran's next leader
• TRT World: Trump demands role in choosing Iran's next leader, rejects Khamenei’s son
• Trump wants hand in picking Iran's next leader, says Khamenei's son ‘unacceptable'