Trump considers replacing Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei with alternative candidate

US President Donald Trump Discussed Iran’s Leadership in Oval Office Meeting

During a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump discussed potential leadership scenarios for Iran following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. When asked about plans for a “worst-case scenario” in Iran, Trump stated that he had few concerns from a military standpoint but expressed concern that Khamenei’s successor could be unfriendly to US priorities.

Trump noted that the worst-case scenario would be if another leader took over who was equally undesirable, stating, “We don’t want that to happen.” He also mentioned that the previous person being replaced could lead to similar issues in five years. The US and Israel launched their military operation on February 28, with Iran responding with attacks primarily aimed at Israel and US bases across the Middle East.

The death toll in Iran has reached at least 787 people, with injuries and deaths reported across the region. At least six US service members have been killed in the fighting. Trump’s administration has offered various justifications for the attack, including eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. In a prerecorded statement, Trump mentioned preventing a “radical dictatorship” from threatening America.

Trump also discussed his vision for Iran’s future, suggesting that it could resemble Venezuela’s government following his recent military intervention in the country. He mentioned that the US had successfully removed Maduro and installed Delcy Rodriguez as interim leader, with the administration’s support. The Trump administration has been working to extract economic benefits from Venezuela’s oil, which has been under US control since the operation.

In Tuesday’s remarks, Trump highlighted the cooperation of the Rodriguez government and expressed satisfaction with the results of the January attack in Venezuela. He hinted that this model could be applied to Iran’s future, stating that it had been “great” for the US.

Source: Al Jazeera