US President Trump makes statement on Iran leadership and oil market stability

US President Donald Trump has stated that any new Supreme Leader of Iran will not be able to maintain their position without approval from the US. This statement came on Sunday, following reports that Iran’s Assembly of Experts had selected a replacement for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Trump, “he’s going to have to get approval from us” in order to take office as Supreme Leader. If this approval is not obtained, Trump stated that the individual will “not last long”. The President also expressed concerns about future military action, stating that he does not want future administrations to repeat the same actions.

Iranian officials have rejected the idea of US influence over the selection process, with Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi saying that Iranians will elect their own leader. Trump’s comments were made shortly before the Pentagon confirmed a seventh US soldier had died in the conflict.

The death toll has risen to 1,332, with at least 11 killed across the Gulf and 11 in Israel. The US military command has stated that the unidentified soldier was wounded during an attack on US troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1 and died on Saturday.

Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi has rejected claims that Iran had not entered into negotiations on its nuclear programme in good faith, stating that diplomatic initiatives were making progress before the conflict began. The Arab League minister also warned of a “dangerous turning point” in the region as fighting escalates.

The US and Israel have reportedly considered a special ground operation to seize Iran’s enriched uranium, with Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter stating that securing the nuclear fuel is on their radar screen.

Source: Al Jazeera