Iran’s new Supreme Leader won’t last long without U.S. approval – Trump
Quick Read
In a telephone interview with ABC News, Trump emphasized that "everything is on the table" regarding potential US actions, including the use of ground forces to secure or remove Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles, material that can fuel civilian reactors but also serve as the core for nuclear weapons.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
US President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Iran’s clerical leadership on Sunday, declaring that the country’s incoming supreme leader must secure American approval or face a short tenure.
He also refused to rule out deploying US troops to seize Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium amid the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran.
In a telephone interview with ABC News, Trump emphasized that “everything is on the table” regarding potential US actions, including the use of ground forces to secure or remove Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpiles, material that can fuel civilian reactors but also serve as the core for nuclear weapons.
A senior administration official recently noted that Iran possessed enough enriched uranium to potentially reach weapons-grade levels in as little as 10 days or less if further processed.
Trump said the intervention is essential to preventing recurring conflicts.
“We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it,” he said.
Central to his comments was the succession process following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes last weekend.
As Iran’s Assembly of Experts reportedly nears consensus on a replacement, despite logistical hurdles in wartime, Trump asserted direct US involvement.
“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” the president stated, adding that “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long.”
Trump added that he would be open to endorsing a figure with ties to the old regime if deemed suitable, saying, “I would, in order to choose a good leader, I would.”
The remarks build on earlier statements where Trump expressed willingness to shape Iran’s post-Khamenei leadership to avoid future escalations.
They come as the conflict intensifies, with US and Israeli forces targeting Iranian nuclear sites, oil infrastructure, and military assets, while Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes across the region, including into Kuwait.
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