President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States should play a role in shaping Iran’s future leadership following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, signaling a dramatic escalation in rhetoric as conflict in the region continues.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he wants Iran’s current leadership removed and suggested the U.S. should help guide what comes next.
“We want to go in and clean out everything,” Trump said.
During a separate interview with Axios, the president said he believes he should be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader, comparing the situation to what he described as his involvement in installing Venezuela’s current government.
Trump also rejected the possibility that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Iranian supreme leader, could succeed his father.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Trump said, adding that Mojtaba Khamenei would be “unacceptable” as Iran’s next leader.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me,” Trump said. “We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.”
Trump warned that allowing a leader who continues Khamenei’s policies could lead to renewed conflict with the United States within a few years.
“If that happens, we’ll be back at war in five years,” he said.
Iranian officials have delayed announcing a successor for several days following Khamenei’s death. Political figures in Tehran suggested Thursday that an announcement could come soon, though no official timeline has been confirmed.
Trump urges Iranian forces to stand down
Speaking during an appearance at the White House, Trump also called on members of Iran’s military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to stop fighting.
“I’m once again calling on members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military and police to lay down their arms,” Trump said. “They are only going to be killed. Now is the time to stand up for the Iranian people and help take back your country.”
Trump added that those who comply would receive protection.
“You have a chance after all these years to take back your country,” he said. “Accept immunity. We will give you immunity, and we will put you on the right side of the history… You will be safe with total immunity or face absolutely guaranteed death.”
House rejects measure to limit war powers
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers narrowly rejected a resolution that would have limited Trump’s ability to conduct military operations against Iran without approval from Congress.
The measure failed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 212–219.
House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that restricting the president’s authority would undermine ongoing military operations.
“We are not at war,” Johnson said, even as fighting continues. He described the current operation as limited and said the “mission is nearly accomplished.”
Critics countered that the Constitution grants Congress the authority to declare war and accused the president of overstepping by authorizing the strike on Iran that triggered the current conflict.
“The framers weren’t fooling around,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland. “It’s up to us.”
Two Republicans joined most Democrats in supporting the resolution, while four Democrats voted with Republicans to defeat it. Even if it had passed the House, the Senate had already rejected a similar measure, and Trump indicated he would veto any version that reached his desk.
Fighting expands in the region
The conflict continued to intensify Friday as Israel launched additional strikes across the region.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out a “broad wave of strikes” targeting Iranian regime infrastructure in Tehran.
Israeli forces also struck positions linked to the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the IDF, 26 strikes were carried out in the Dahieh area, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure including a command center and a facility storing unmanned aerial vehicles.
