President Trump has said he is “not happy” about the appointment of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, adding that the Islamic regime had made a “big mistake”.
Hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei, the late Ali Khamenei's son, was announced as the new chief Ayatollah yesterday.
He was chosen by the "assembly of experts", a body of 88 Islamic scholars who have been selected by their loyalty to the regime.
The previous Ayatollah was killed in the first wave of joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, ending his 36-year reign.
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President Trump, who has previously called upon Iranians to rise up and overthrow the Islamic regime, has shared his thoughts on the new Supreme Leader.
Speaking to various US media networks, the Republican President said he was “not happy” with Mojtaba Khamenei’s announcement as Supreme Leader.
Later, Mr Trump said Iran had “made a big mistake” with the appointment.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he added.
Donald Trump has said he is 'not happy' with the appointment of Iran’s new Supreme Leader
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President Trump has insisted the US have authority over the leadership of Iran.
Speaking on the subject of succession, the US leader said: “He’s going to have to get approval from us.”
“If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.”
“We don’t want to come back every five years or every 10 years and do this. We want to pick a president that’s not going to be leading their country into a war,” Mr Trump added to reporters aboard Air Force One.
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Hardliner Mojtaba Khamenei, the late Ali Khamenei's son, was announced as the new chief Ayatollah yesterday
|GETTY
Last week, as speculation on who would replace Ali Khamenei swirled, the US leader slammed the eventual successor as a “lightweight”.
At the time, President Trump compared potential US involvement in selecting a news leader as was seen following his successful ousting of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
"I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy (Rodriguez) in Venezuela," he told Axios.
Ms Rodriguez was installed as the acting President following the American blitz of Caracas, with President Trump confirming the US “will run” the South American country for a time.
'If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long'
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Mr Trump has also warned that a successor to Ali Khamenei who was “as bad” would be a worst-case scenario.
"I guess the worst case would be we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right?"
"That could happen. We don't want that to happen. That would probably be the worst."
President Trump has said the US would carry out intensified strikes on Iran if Tehran refuses to back down.
He has demanded the “unconditional surrender” of the Islamic regime.
Regarding putting boots on the ground in Iran, the US leader said he was “nowhere near” taking that step.
“We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it,” he told the New York Post.
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