Iran’s new supreme leader has not been in power long, but President Donald Trump has already voiced his displeasure of the choice and said he would support Mojtaba Khamenei’s murder.
Trump said he would support the killing if the new leader if he doesn’t agree to the U.S.’s demands to end the war, per Mediaite.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts named Khamenei the new Supreme Leader of Iran, succeeding his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the U.S. and Israel’s joint strikes. Mojtaba’s selection has been viewed as a continuation of what the U.S. has sought to eliminate.
Trump told the New York Post in a Monday interview he was “not happy” with the selection.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Trump “would back” the killing of Mojtaba if he refused America’s demands. One important was is to end Iran’s development of nuclear arms.
“President Trump has told aides he would back the killing of new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei if he proves unwilling to cede to U.S. demands, such as ending Iran’s nuclear development, current and former U.S. officials said,” the WSJ reported.
The White House declined to comment.
Trump told the New York Post Monday he was “not happy” Khamenei was selected to lead Iran after previously calling him “unacceptable.”
Last week, Trump said he wanted a say in picking a “great and acceptable” ruler for Iran following its “unconditional surrender.”
“I’m not going through this to end up with another Khamenei,” Trump told Time magazine last week.
The report added Israel would “likely” carry out the targeted strike if a decision is made to eliminate Mojtaba.
