Donald Trump has said he wants to be involved in choosing Iran’s next supreme leader, reiterating his goal of helping install leadership that would be friendly to the United States.
Trump opposed the possible appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying, “They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment,” according to reports from Axios.
He also said he would prefer a leader similar to Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, whom he described as an example of a leader who has cooperated with U.S. interests. Trump said, “Venezuela was so incredible because we did the attack, and we kept government totally intact. And we have Delcy, who’s been very good,” while speaking to reporters.
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in finding an Iranian leader similar to Rodríguez. “Trump wants an Iranian Rodriguez,” analysts said, explaining that he appears to favor a symbolic figure willing to follow U.S. policy priorities. One analyst said, “He is fine with a symbolic figure taking over Iran as long as this person pursues Trump’s policy preferences, just as Delcy has done.”
However, political analysts warn that Iran’s system makes such influence difficult. Iran’s supreme leader must be a qualified religious scholar, and the successor is selected by an elected council of 88 members known as the Assembly of Experts.
Iranian officials have denied any negotiations with the United States. U.S. officials have also said they are pursuing a strategy of pressure while continuing military operations, with aides describing the campaign as raining “death and destruction” on Iran.
