Donald Trump has said the United States should take part in choosing the next leader of Iran after the death of its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Trump made the statement during an interview with the news website Axios. His comments came as the war between Iran, Israel, and the United States continues to grow and affect many countries in the Middle East.
The conflict has now continued for several days, with missile attacks, drone strikes, and military operations spreading across the region.
Trump Rejects Khamenei’s Son as Next Leader
During the interview, Trump said he does not support Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian leader, becoming the next Supreme Leader.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” Trump said. He added that he wants a leader who can bring “harmony and peace” to Iran.
Mojtaba Khamenei is known to be close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s powerful military force. Many experts believe he could become the next leader, but Iran has not yet announced a successor.
Trump Compares Situation to Venezuela
Trump also compared the situation in Iran with political developments in Venezuela.
He said the United States had been involved in leadership changes there and mentioned Delcy Rodríguez while speaking about the issue.
His comments have raised questions about whether the United States and Israel want a change in Iran’s leadership or only want Iran to change its policies.
War Expands Across the Region
The war started with major strikes that killed Ali Khamenei. Since then, the fighting has spread to several countries.
Iran has launched missiles and drones toward Israeli targets, U.S. military bases, and other locations in the region.
Countries affected include Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Many of these countries have activated air defense systems after missiles and drones were detected.
Casualties Continue to Rise
The growing conflict has already caused many deaths.
Officials say more than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran, while over 100 people have died in Lebanon. Around a dozen people have been killed in Israel.
The United States also confirmed that six American soldiers were killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait.
U.S. Navy Sinks Iranian Warship
Tensions increased further after the U.S. Navy sank an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, in the Indian Ocean earlier this week.
Iran said the ship was returning from a naval exercise hosted by India. Iranian officials reported that many sailors were killed in the attack.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly criticized the strike and warned that the United States would “bitterly regret” the action.
Some sailors were later rescued near the coast of Sri Lanka.
Fighting Also Spreads to Lebanon
The conflict has also reached Lebanon, where the Iran-backed group Hezbollah is involved in fighting with Israel.
Israel issued evacuation warnings to residents living in the southern suburbs of Beirut, warning them to leave the area for their safety.
Peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said they saw ground fighting and air attacks near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Oil Supply and Shipping Affected
The conflict has also affected global oil supply routes.
Ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, two important routes where a large amount of the world’s oil passes every day.
Because of this, oil prices have started to rise in global markets.
Uncertain Future for Iran
Iran has not yet announced who will replace Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader.
Trump’s comments about being involved in choosing Iran’s next leader could increase tensions further.
As the war continues to spread across the Middle East, many countries are watching closely to see how the situation develops in the coming days.
Megan Davies is a reporter for White Pine Tribune. After graduating from the University of Toronto, Megan got an internship at the CBC News and worked as a reporter and editor. Megan has also worked as a reporter for Global Toronto. Megan covers economy and community events for White Pine Tribune.
