The political landscape in Iran is undergoing a major shift, and former US President Donald Trump is not holding back his views on what should come next. Following recent US-Israeli strikes and the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump has made it clear: he believes Iran desperately needs a moderate leader.
“The worst-case scenario for Iran,” Trump stated, “would be if somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person.” He hopes for a new leader who can “bring it back to the people,” moving away from a hardline approach. While the White House had previously considered various candidates, Trump now suggests a moderate figure from within Iran would be most suitable. “We have people like that,” he added, hinting at potential choices.
Trump also addressed rumors surrounding Israel’s influence on the recent strikes. He firmly denied claims that Israel forced the US’s hand, asserting that the US acted preemptively because “they were going to attack if we didn’t do it.” In fact, Trump even suggested he might have “forced Israel’s hand” to some extent. He emphasized the significant success of the strikes, which he believes have “knocked out” much of Iran’s capabilities and significantly reduced their missile count.
Adding to the regional tension, Trump criticized Iran’s surprising retaliatory attacks on neighboring, previously neutral countries. “They were surprised. I was surprised,” he remarked, noting these nations are now strongly opposing Iran. He further condemned Tehran’s targeting of “only civilian places, hotels and apartment buildings,” contrasting it with the US’s “much more appropriate” and targeted strikes against specific military assets.
It’s clear Trump is closely watching Iran’s transition, advocating for a significant shift towards moderation and away from what he perceives as a history of aggressive actions and civilian targeting.
