The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has said that Iran’s next supreme leader might not stay in power for long if that person does not receive approval from the U.S.
Trump made the comment on Sunday during an interview with ABC News. His remarks came as leaders in Iran continue discussions about who will become the country’s next supreme leader.
“He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump said during the interview. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long.”
The U.S. president said he wants a solution that prevents future conflicts with Iran. According to him, the goal is to avoid dealing with the same problem again in a few years.
“I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
When asked whether he would accept a candidate connected to Iran’s previous leadership, Trump said he could support that person if they prove to be the right choice.
“I would, in order to choose a good leader, yeah, I would,” he said. “There are numerous people that could qualify.”
Trump also claimed that Iran had been planning to expand its power across the Middle East before tensions increased recently.
“They are a paper tiger,” he said. “They weren’t a paper tiger a week ago. And they were going to attack. Their plan was to attack the entire Middle East, to take over the entire Middle East.”
The president also said the U.S. is still considering different options, including possible military action. He suggested that special forces could be used to seize Iran’s enriched uranium if needed.
“Everything is on the table. Everything,” Trump said.
