Donald Trump says the U.S. should have a say in choosing Iran’s next leader and opposes Mojtaba Khamenei as successor. (Photo: Pool/Getty Images)
On March 5, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump made waves when he told Axios that he believes the United States should have a say in choosing Iran’s next supreme leader.
He specifically rejected the idea of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling him “unacceptable” and a “lightweight.” Trump warned that if Iran chooses a hardline leader who continues the old policies, tensions with the U.S. could flare up again in the coming years.
While the comments are real and widely reported, it’s important to separate reality from rhetoric. The truth is, the U.S. has no legal or constitutional role in deciding Iran’s next leader. That power lies entirely with Iran’s own Assembly of Experts, a council of senior clerics elected by Iranians to choose the supreme leader. No foreign country, including the United States, can officially influence that process.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, is widely seen as a possible contender in the discussion over who could lead Iran next.
Mojtaba Khamenei has been mentioned in news reports as a potential successor because of his influence in clerical and security circles, but he has never held a formal government position. Iran’s constitution does not allow for hereditary succession, so any move to make him leader would involve serious debate among Iran’s clerics.
Trump’s statements are political messaging bold, attention-grabbing, and likely to stir discussion but they do not change Iran’s internal process. The Assembly of Experts remains the ultimate authority, and no foreign leader can override that.
At the end of the day, Trump’s comments make headlines, but they don’t rewrite the laws of a sovereign nation. The real story lies in how Iran itself navigates its leadership transition.
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