Iran leadership succession: Trump says regime insider may be best choice after campaign

US President Donald Trump said an Iranian regime insider might be best placed to take power after the US-Israel campaign, adding that Reza Pahlavi has not been considered in depth. Trump also told reporters that some potential internal figures the US had in mind are dead, and that other possible candidates remain unclear.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that a figure from inside Iran’s ruling system might be the best option to take power after the US-Israel campaign ends. Trump made the remarks during an Oval Office exchange. Trump also raised concerns about Iran ending up with a leader similar to the last one.

Trump said the US wanted to avoid an outcome where a new leader keeps the same approach. "I guess the worst case would be do this, and then somebody takes over whos as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen,\" Trump said. \"We dont want that to happen.\"

Trump Iran regime comments on possible successor

Asked about Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s toppled Shah, Trump said his administration had not weighed that option closely. \"He looks like a very nice person, but it would seem to me that somebody thats there thats currently popular, if theres such a person... we have people like that,\" Trump said.

Trump added that while some people supported Pahlavi, the US had not focused much on Pahlavi as a next ruler. Trump also spoke about possible figures within Iran. \"As far as possible leaders inside Iran, the people we had in mind are dead,\" Trump said. Trump did not name those individuals.

Trump Iran regime options include multiple groups

Trump told reporters at the White House that there were other sets of possible leaders. \"We have another group. They may be dead also,\" Trump said. Trump then referred to further possibilities. Trump said there was a third wave coming in but added that the US did not know those people.

In Iran, leaders were reported to be scrambling to replace Khamenei, who ruled the country for 37 years. It is only the second time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that a new supreme leader is being selected. Potential candidates included hard-liners focused on confrontation with the West and reformists seeking diplomatic engagement.

With inputs from PTI