US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to be involved in selecting the next supreme leader of Iran, stating that he wants a leader who is friendly to the United States.
The US president made the comments in an interview with Axios, where he also voiced his opposition to appointing Mojtaba, the son of the assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as his father's successor.
Trump stated that he would prefer a leader similar to Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, who has allowed the US to sell Venezuela's oil and cut off petroleum supplies to Cuba.
Iranian Response
Iranian officials have denied any negotiations with the US, and Trump's aides have said that Washington is prepared to take further action against Iran.
Trita Parsi, executive vice president at the Quincy Institute, said that Trump is seeking Iranian surrender and wants a symbolic figure to take over Iran as long as they pursue his policy preferences.
Parsi told Al Jazeera that Trump does not want anyone succeeding Khamenei who isn't willing to submit to his policy demands, and that it does not appear he will find such a person from within the existing Iranian system.
Selection Process
The Iranian supreme leader is selected by an elected council of 88 members known as the Assembly of Experts, which was recently targeted by Israel in the holy city of Qom.
Some reports claimed that the council was meeting for the supreme leader selection during the attack, but Iran denied the claims, saying that the building was empty and that the date for selecting the new leader had not been set.
Trump's emphasis on the Venezuelan model has raised questions about his initial call for freedom in Iran, including urging the people to rise up against their government.
Source: Al Jazeera
