dismissing the likely succession of Mojtaba Khamenei and comparing the situation to his recent interference in Venezuela.
In an eight-minute phone call with Axios, Trump declared Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, unacceptable as a successor. The Iranian regime has been delaying the announcement of a new supreme leader for several days, although statements by Iranian politicians on Thursday suggested an announcement could be made soon.

"They're wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I should be involved in the appointment, just like I did with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," Trump said. He added that he refuses to accept a new Iranian leader who would continue the policies of the former supreme leader, which he said would force the United States back to war "in five years." "Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We need someone who will bring harmony and peace to Iran," Trump said.

Mojtaba Khamenei, a radical cleric with deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has emerged as the front-runner to replace his father, though no official announcement has been made. He has never held public office.

Israel bombed an Iranian building in Qom on Tuesday that houses the clerical body responsible for choosing Iran's next supreme leader, seeking to disrupt the vote count.

Trump compared the succession in Iran to his interference in Venezuela, where Vice President Delcy Rodriguez took power after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro in January.

According to Polymarket, the likelihood of Mojtaba Khamenei becoming the next supreme leader is 66%.