Image: from Kenya West X @KinyanBoy
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
WASHINGTON / TEL AVIV — President Donald Trump has expressed sharp disapproval of the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, as the military conflict between a U.S.–Israeli coalition and the Islamic Republic enters its second week of intensive operations.
The transition in Tehran follows the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during the opening wave of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. The Assembly of Experts announced shortly after midnight that his son, Mojtaba, would assume the mantle of leadership.
Responding to the news during a broadcast on Fox News’ “One Nation,” host Brian Kilmeade reported that the President was “not happy” with the selection. In subsequent remarks, Trump signaled that the new leadership in Tehran would face an uphill battle for survival without American approval.
“The next leader won’t last long if he doesn’t have support from the White House,” Trump told ABC News, later adding to reporters that his goal remains the “unconditional capitulation” of the Iranian regime. “It’s where they cry uncle, or when they can’t fight any longer… we’ve wiped out their leadership numerous times already.”
A Joint Command
In an exclusive phone interview with The Times of Israel, President Trump detailed the strategic coordination between Washington and Jerusalem. He emphasized that while he maintains the final word on the duration of the “relentless barrage” of strikes, the timeline is being managed in close consultation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll decide at the right time,” Trump said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt further clarified the administration’s stance on Friday, stating that Washington expects the high-intensity phase of the war to last approximately four to six weeks. Trump dismissed concerns that Israel might have to continue the fight alone if the U.S. withdrew, stating simply, “I don’t think it’s going to be necessary.”
Domestic Politics and Global Security
The President also used the platform to weigh in on Israeli internal affairs, doubling down on his demand that Israeli President Isaac Herzog grant Prime Minister Netanyahu an immediate pardon regarding his ongoing legal challenges.
“Bibi Netanyahu should be given that pardon immediately,” Trump asserted. “We want Bibi to be focused on the war, not on a ridiculous pardon.”
While Herzog’s office responded by maintaining that Israel remains a sovereign state governed by the rule of law, Trump praised Netanyahu’s performance as a wartime leader, claiming that without their partnership, “Israel would not exist today.”
The New Leader in the Crosshairs
Mojtaba Khamenei, 55, takes power at the most precarious moment in the history of the Islamic Republic. Despite having held no formal government post previously, he has long been viewed as a shadow power player within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The U.S. Treasury had already sanctioned the younger Khamenei in 2019, and his ascent has been met with immediate threats from the coalition. Israel has issued warnings that it will continue to target individuals involved in the new leadership structure.
As explosions continue to rock Tehran and the death toll among U.S. service members rises to seven, the geopolitical stakes continue to climb. Trump remains defiant, claiming the destruction of Iran’s military capabilities will lead to a “safer world” and the eventual disarmament of regional proxies like Hamas.
“Iran is in a position that it’s never known before,” Trump concluded. “And it’s only going to get worse for them.”