In a series of jarring statements that have sent shockwaves through the Middle East, President Donald Trump has argued he must be “personally involved” in choosing Iran’s next leader. In an exclusive interview with Axios on March 5, 2026, Trump brushed aside the potential rise of Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the assassinated Supreme Leader, who he described as a "lightweight," and who, he said, would be "unacceptable" in office.
“Venezuela-Style” Intervention?
Trump pointed to his administration’s recent actions in South America to make the point: the U.S. intervened in the leadership of Venezuela. “I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodríguez] in Venezuela,” Trump said, invoking the transition following the U.S. operation with Nicolás Maduro.
The President claimed the objective was to prevent the cycle of fighting from returning to the past. “We don’t have to go back every five years and do this over and over again,” he told Reuters. If a leader who follows the hardline policies of the late Khamenei is installed, he warned that the United States would almost certainly be sent back to war in five years. What Trump says, however, is he is looking for a leader who would bring "harmony and peace" to the region.
Unrest at the Assembly of Experts
Trump’s remarks emerge from the depths of utter chaos at Iran’s center. The Assembly of Experts, the clerical group responsible for choosing the Supreme Leader, has alleged it had seen its deliberations interrupted by Israeli air strikes at Qom. Internal dissent is also mounting; reports say some of its members are rebelling against the pressure to appoint Mojtaba by the IRGC over fears the appointment could turn the Islamic Republic into a “hereditary” system.
The “Regime Change” Debate
While Trump’s language sounds like he’s interested in playing a more hands-on role within Iran domestic politics, senior administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have claimed that “regime change” isn’t the official goal of Operation Epic Fury. They say the priority continues to be degrading Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities. Trump’s clamor for a role in the succession process has, however, clouded these stated military aims.
