Headlines
Trump says he needs to be involved in selecting iran's next leader, axios reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 5, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 5, 2026
Quick Summary
President Trump told Axios on March 5, 2026, that he must be involved in choosing Iran’s next leader, rejecting Mojtaba Khamenei as unacceptable and drawing a parallel to U.S. influence in Venezuela via Delcy Rodríguez ([axios.com](www.axios.com/2026/03/05/iran-leader-trump-khamenei?utm_sour
Trump says he needs to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader, Axios reports
Trump's Comments on Iran's Leadership Succession
Trump's Interview with Axios
March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios on Thursday that he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader.
Trump's Stance on Khamenei's Son
"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Axios quoted Trump as saying in an interview.
Comparison to Venezuela
"I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy (Rodriguez) in Venezuela," Trump said.
Mojtaba Khamenei's Role and Background
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's late Supreme Leader, has survived the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in which his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, Iranian sources told Reuters on Wednesday.
A mid-ranking cleric with close ties to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, hardliner Mojtaba is one of the most influential figures in the Iranian clerical establishment and is seen as a possible successor to his father.
Status of Iran's Leadership
Iran has not yet announced a new leader.
(Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis, Bhargav Acharya and Ryan Patrick Jones; Editing by Caitlin Webber)
Key Takeaways
- •Trump’s assertion of U.S. role in Iran’s internal succession marks a bold and unprecedented claim of influence over Iranian political fate (axios.com).
- •Mojtaba Khamenei—son of the late Supreme Leader—is seen by Trump as a 'lightweight' and unacceptable candidate, indicating U.S. preference for a more moderate figure (axios.com).
- •Trump likens the situation in Iran to Venezuela, where Delcy Rodríguez assumed control under U.S. oversight, suggesting a template he hopes to replicate in Tehran (axios.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump says he needs to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader, Axios reports
1What did Trump say about Iran's next leader in the Axios interview?
Trump stated he wants to be personally involved in selecting Iran's next leader, rejecting Khamenei's son as an option.
2Why did Trump reject Khamenei's son as a successor?
Trump described Khamenei's son as unacceptable and called for a leader who would bring harmony and peace to Iran.
3Who reported Trump's comments on Iran's leadership?
Daphne Psaledakis and Bhargav Acharya reported the comments, with editing by Caitlin Webber.
