WASHINGTON: The United States President Donald Trump has described Iran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader as a “major mistake,” raising fresh concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East.
President Trump criticized the Iranian leadership for selecting the son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to succeed his father following his death.
“I think Iran has made a very big mistake,” Trump said during the interview. When asked about the possible consequences of this decision, the US president responded briefly, saying, “We will see.”
In this regard, Trump had earlier also described Mojtaba Khamenei as a weak personality and questioned his suitability for leading Iran.
In this sense, responding to a question about the possibility of the United States taking control of Iran’s oil resources, Trump said it was too early to discuss such a scenario. However, he did not completely rule out the possibility.
“It is premature to talk about it right now,” Trump said, adding that the United States is considering all possible options in light of the ongoing conflict with Iran and concerns over its nuclear program.
The leadership change in Iran came after long-time Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed during joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
The Iranian political and military establishment selected his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader.
