Trump: The US Will Ensure the New Iranian Supreme Leader will not Threaten

US President Donald Trump/Photo: White House via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said Washington would ensure whoever leads Iran after the American-Israeli war would not threaten its neighbors or the United States.

"We will make sure whoever leads the country next, Iran will not threaten America or its neighbors, Israel, anyone. Long before this started, they tried to target the entire Middle East. Then, we came, we destroyed their 'party'," Trump said, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, March 6.

Previously, Trump also demanded that he have the right to choose the new leader of Iran, as he did in determining the leader of Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro, the country's president, was impeached by the Americans in January and extradited to the US.

"I have to be involved in that appointment, like (the appointment) of Delcy Rodriguez in Venezuela," he told Axios.

Trump even disparaged Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei - who was killed in the attack - and called him a "person of no consequence".

Trump insisted he would not accept a new Iranian leader who would continue Khamenei's policies, because he thought it could drag the US back into war "in five years".

"We want someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump said.

Iran has not announced its new supreme leader since Khamenei and dozens of other senior Iranian officials were killed after a joint attack by the United States and Israel was launched on Saturday (28/2).

Although he does not hold an official position, Mojtaba Khamenei is considered Khamenei's most influential son. Mojtaba was also sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2019 and was linked to the Basij forces used to suppress protests after the disputed Iranian elections in 2009.

Trump also called on Iranian military, police, and diplomatic officials to defect.

"You will have the opportunity, after many years, to take back your country, to receive immunity. We will give you immunity and we will give you the right side of history, because that's what it is. So, you will be completely safe with full immunity," he said.

Trump also urged Iranian diplomats around the world to seek asylum and help the US shape a new and better Iran with great potential.

"This country has great potential, a much better future for Iran. It's just starting. I think its future will be very good," Trump said.