Trump's 'fine' with another religious leader ruling Iran
US President Donald Trump told CNN he is “fine” if another religious figure becomes the leader of Iran and does not care if the Islamic Republic becomes a democracy.
"It depends on who the person is. I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders, and they are fantastic,” Trump said.
He added that a democratic leader is not necessary for Iran.
“No, I’m saying there has to be a leader that’s going to be fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East - they’re all our partners," he said.
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The comments to CNN come after Trump wrote on social media, calling for Iran’s "unconditional surrender".
The US and Israel have pummelled Iran with air strikes and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump’s call for Iranians to take to the streets and overthrow their government has gone unheeded.
Iran has fired fewer long-range ballistic missiles, but it is hitting US military bases and Gulf states with short-range ballistic missiles and drones.
In an interview this week on US television, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Islamic Republic is prepared for a possible ground invasion by US troops, and thinks it would win.
Pressed on what Trump meant by "unconditional surrender", the White House appeared to walk the statement back, saying Trump would determine if Iran had met his threshold for the term.
"When he, as commander-in-chief, determines that Iran no longer poses a threat to the US and the goals of Operation Epic Fury have been fully realised, then Iran will essentially be in a place of unconditional surrender, whether they say it themselves or not,” White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said on Friday.
The Trump administration has justified its war on Iran in part by attacking its government. Earlier this year, the country witnessed a brutal crackdown on ordinary Iranians who protested against spiralling inflation. Those protests were bigger than the wide-scale demonstrations that erupted over Iran’s hijab law in 2022.
Trump’s remarks to CNN, however, suggest he is fine if Iran continues officially as an Islamic Republic with a religious leader. It’s unclear how ethnic groups like the Kurds, who Trump has publicly endorsed rising up against the Iranian government, will view his statement.
Venezuela
CNN said that Trump again drew a parallel between Iran and Venezuela.
In January, the US launched a nighttime attack on Venezuela and abducted President Nicolas Maduro.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez became the leader of the South American country. Rodriguez had played a role in hosting talks with US officials and American energy companies months before Maduro's abduction.
Rodriguez was viewed as someone who could work with the US to unlock Venezuela's mineral and oil wealth.
In Venezuela, Trump left the machinations of Maduro's security state in place, including the military and intelligence agencies. But he has staked a claim to the country's oil, directly selling it on the market.
Trump said on Thursday that he must be directly involved in choosing the new ruler of Iran. He dismissed the idea that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain supreme leader, would take over in Iran.
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