US President Donald Trump said Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's late ayatollah, is an unacceptable successor and insisted on being personally involved in picking the country's next leader.
Trump on Thursday called the younger Khamenei a "lightweight" who would continue the policies of his father and force the US into another armed conflict with the Islamic Republic "in five years." He added that "I have to be involved in the appointment," similar to how he was in Venezuela.
"Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran," the president said in an interview with Axios.
Trump's comments amount to a remarkable US claim over the future of Iran's leadership and add to the mixed signals his administration has sent about its war aims. The president and his advisers have said they're looking to curb Iran's ability to obtain nuclear weapons and long-range missiles, as well as prevent Tehran from projecting power in the region. But they have made conflicting statements about whether they are seeking regime change.
Earlier: Iran Poised to Name New Supreme Leader With US Watching Closely
Iran's top clerics are nearing a decision on the country's next supreme leader after Ali Khamenei was killed in the US-Israeli war. Convening the assembly has been difficult given the advanced age of its members and the ongoing conflict. Still, the group has said it has narrowed its list of candidates and plans to announce a decision "as soon as possible."
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, is the second-oldest son of the slain ayatollah and is running to become leader. He fought briefly in the Iran-Iraq War during the 1980s and later became a cleric. He was sanctioned, along with his father, by the US during Trump's first term in office.
Trump has repeatedly lauded Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez, who is serving as the country's interim president following the raid that captured former strongman Nicolás Maduro. Rodriguez has been compliant with US demands about tapping Venezuela's oil and mineral resources.
The president posted on social media Wednesday that Rodriguez is "doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well," adding that the "Oil is beginning to flow."