U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran’s next leader “will not last long” without his approval in an interview with the American network ABC.
“He will have to receive our approval. If he does not receive our approval, he will not last long,” Trump warned.
His remarks came as Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that the choice of the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the Israeli-U.S. attack, belongs to the Iranian people.
According to members of the Assembly of Experts, the body of Iranian clerics responsible for the decision, a new supreme leader was selected today. However, the name of the chosen candidate has not yet been announced.
Trump had already said on Thursday that he wanted to “get involved” in the selection of Iran’s next supreme leader. He also made clear that he would not accept Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ali Khamenei, taking over the position.
In a separate interview with NBC, Araghchi rejected the idea of U.S. involvement in the process.
“We do not allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs,” he said.
“It is up to the Iranian people to choose their new leader. This concerns only the Iranian people and no one else,” he added.
Asked about missiles and drones launched by Tehran toward neighboring Gulf countries, the Iranian foreign minister said Iran’s missiles cannot reach U.S. territory.
“What we can do is strike American bases and facilities around us, which unfortunately are located on the territory of our neighboring countries,” he said.
Earlier this week Trump claimed Iran could soon develop missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Araghchi also said Iran maintains “a very good partnership with Russia” and added that Trump should apologize for the war in the Middle East.
Source: AMNA
Also read: Trump does not rule out deploying US troops to Iran
