Questions over who could lead Iran after the death of its longtime supreme leader have triggered sharp comments from President Donald Trump, who publicly dismissed one rumored successor as unfit for the role.
According to the New York Post, while speaking on Thursday, Trump brushed aside speculation that Mojtaba Khamenei — the son of the late Iranian leader — could assume control of the country’s ruling system.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump told Axios as reports circulated that Mojtaba might be positioned to take power in Tehran.
Trump also made clear he would not view the move favorably.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” he said.
The possibility of Mojtaba stepping into the position has been reported by Iranian opposition outlets, though it has not been confirmed by the country’s state media or official government channels.
As speculation spread, previously reported details about Mojtaba’s personal life resurfaced through old diplomatic cables that had been made public years ago.
According to those cables, Mojtaba reportedly struggled with intimate issues after marrying his wife. The documents claimed he was hospitalized several times in London for treatment related to impotence.
The cables, later published through WikiLeaks, suggested that the problems persisted long enough to require multiple trips for medical care.
“Mojtaba was expected by his family to produce children quickly, but needed a fourth visit to the UK for medical treatment; after a stay of two months, his wife became pregnant,” one cable stated.
The same records alleged that Mojtaba entered into two temporary marriages — a practice permitted under Iran’s Islamic law — before ultimately having a child with his wife.
Recent developments in Iran have intensified the focus on the succession question. Mojtaba’s father was killed during a U.S.-Israeli strike on Tehran that reportedly eliminated more than 40 senior Iranian officials.
Since the attack, Iran’s leadership structure has been scrambling to fill the resulting power vacuum. Some hardline factions are said to be pushing for Mojtaba to take control of the regime.
Trump, however, suggested he expects to have a say in how the situation ultimately unfolds.
“I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela,” he told Axios, referencing Venezuela’s leadership change after dictator Nicolas Maduro was captured by U.S. troops earlier this year.
