Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran only weeks after a strike ordered by the US president killed the cleric’s father.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump made clear he was dissatisfied with Iran’s decision to elevate Mojtaba Khamenei to the most powerful political and religious position in the Islamic Republic.
“I’m not happy with him,” the president said when asked about the new leader. Pressed on what actions he might take against the cleric, Mr Trump declined to elaborate, responding: “Not going to tell you. I’m not going to tell you.”
The remarks signal deepening hostility between the United States and Iran following the death of the country’s former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a targeted strike during the rapidly escalating conflict across the Middle East.
Mr Trump has previously dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei as “unacceptable” and suggested he should have a say in who ultimately leads Iran. In comments last week, the president appeared to mock the succession process, saying that “at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like” to take the role.
He added that Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment was “unlikely” and insisted he would prefer a different figure to emerge as the country’s next leader.
Despite those remarks, the 56-year-old cleric was formally announced on Sunday as Iran’s new supreme leader after being selected by the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body responsible for appointing and supervising the supreme leader.
According to Iranian media reports, the decision was made amid strong pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful military organisation that wields significant influence within the country’s political establishment.
Mojtaba Khamenei had not been included among three senior clerics reportedly identified by his father last year as potential successors, raising questions about the speed and circumstances of the appointment.
The cleric is widely regarded as a hardline fundamentalist with close ties to the Revolutionary Guards and has long been seen by analysts as a key figure behind the scenes in Iran’s leadership.
His elevation comes at a moment of extreme volatility in the region, with Iran and its adversaries locked in an intensifying conflict that has drawn in both Israel and the United States.
Israel has already vowed to eliminate whoever succeeded the elder Khamenei after launching the strike that killed him and Mojtaba’s wife, Zahra Haddad-Adel, during the opening phase of the conflict in Tehran.
Iran has since retaliated with a series of attacks against American positions in the Middle East, including strikes on US bases and facilities in Gulf nations.
A recent Iranian drone attack killed seven American service members and injured more than a dozen others, further raising the stakes in the confrontation.
Mr Trump has acknowledged the risk of further casualties among US forces, warning previously that American troops “may have casualties” if the conflict continues to intensify.
The president’s latest remarks also appeared to soften earlier threats that the United States could deploy ground troops inside Iran to destroy a suspected underground uranium stockpile near the city of Isfahan.
“We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it,” Mr Trump said when asked whether American soldiers might be sent to secure or destroy the facility.
His comments mark a shift from previous statements suggesting he was considering deploying troops as tensions spiralled.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t think it’s an appropriate question,” he told reporters. “You know, I’m not going to answer it. Could there be? Possible, for very good reason.”
The issue of potential US military involvement has become a subject of intense debate in Washington, with officials attempting to clarify what options are under consideration.
According to a senior administration official who spoke to Axios last week, discussions within the White House have focused primarily on the possibility of a limited special operations raid rather than a large-scale military invasion involving tens of thousands of troops.
“The phrase ‘boots on the ground’ is not the same as what it means for the media,” the official said, suggesting that any potential operation could involve a smaller and more targeted deployment.
Nevertheless, the administration has repeatedly refused to rule out military action inside Iran if it believes the country’s nuclear capabilities pose an imminent threat.
Karoline Leavitt declined to say whether the president would ultimately authorise the deployment of US forces into Iranian territory.
Meanwhile Pete Hegseth indicated in an interview with the television programme 60 Minutes that the administration was prepared to escalate if necessary.
“We’re willing to go as far as we need to go,” he said, referring to efforts to dismantle Iran’s leadership and military capabilities.
Within Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment has been portrayed by state media as a continuation of his father’s legacy and a symbol of resilience in the face of foreign pressure.
Iranian state television reported that the new leader had been injured during the conflict, describing him as “janbaz”, a term often used to refer to someone wounded in battle.
Details of his injuries were not disclosed, though the reports noted that both his father and his wife were killed in Israeli strikes on Tehran earlier in the war.
The loss has reportedly hardened Mojtaba Khamenei’s stance toward Iran’s adversaries, reinforcing his reputation among supporters as a defiant and uncompromising figure.
Mr Trump, however, dismissed the cleric as a “lightweight”, reiterating his view that the United States should have influence over Iran’s leadership transition.
“I have to be involved in the appointment,” the president said, comparing the situation to his previous comments about leadership in Venezuela.
As the conflict continues to unfold across the Middle East, the emergence of a new and more hardline Iranian supreme leader threatens to complicate any diplomatic path toward de-escalation.
With retaliatory strikes already claiming American lives and both sides refusing to rule out further military action, the prospect of a wider regional confrontation remains a growing concern among international observers.
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