US war aims murky as Trump eyes role in Iran’s postwar future
While his officials insist the war isn't about regime change, President Donald Trump says he wants a hand in picking Iran's next leader.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s insistence that he be involved in choosing Iran’s postwar leadership has muddled his administration’s message that its operation is aimed narrowly at destroying the country's military and nuclear capabilities.
His officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have characterized possible regime change as a welcome consequence rather than an objective of the war, which they say is to degrade Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, naval forces and support for regional militias.
Yet Trump has openly speculated about who should succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during a reported Israeli strike after serving for 36 years as the Islamic Republic’s second supreme leader. Trump went a step further on Thursday, telling various news outlets that he must personally be involved in selecting Iran’s next supreme leader.
"We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who is going to lead Iran into the future," Trump told Reuters.
