
US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that he believes his personal involvement in choosing Iran's next leader is necessary, citing his experience with Venezuela as an example.
Trump criticized the leading candidate for succession, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, calling him “unacceptable” to Washington. He warned that his choice could lead the United States back into conflict within five years if he follows the same policies as his father.
The US president added that he intends to personally influence to ensure that Iran's next leader brings "harmony and peace", rejecting the legacy of the existing regime.
In the interview, Trump also commented on Israeli-American relations, saying that Israeli President Isaac Herzog should pardon Benjamin Netanyahu. He added that he doesn't want Netanyahu to worry about anything other than war with Iran, and claimed that Herzog had promised him five times that he would pardon Netanyahu.