Trump Warns Iran's Next Leadership... Israel Disrupts Leader Selection (Comprehensive)
"When Crazy People Have Nuclear Weapons, Bad Things Happen"
Warning on Possibility of Khamenei’s Second Son Becoming Leader
Iran: "Could Also Strike Israeli Nuclear Facilities"
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that "anyone seeking to become Iran's next leader will meet death." Israel is also reported to have conducted military operations aimed at disrupting the selection of Iran's next leader. As Iran has launched indiscriminate attacks on neighboring countries—including an assault on Turkiye, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)—analysts believe these actions are intended to prolong the leadership vacuum in Iran and undermine its ability to respond effectively.
Trump Warns Iranian Leadership... Will He Block Khamenei's Son from Taking Power?
On March 4 (local time), President Trump made these remarks at a White House roundtable on energy issues, saying, "When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen," in reference to Iran's future leadership. This warning comes amid reports that Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a U.S. military strike, is expected to become the next Supreme Leader.
According to The New York Times, Mojtaba Khamenei has the backing of the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Should Mojtaba assume the role of Supreme Leader, Iran’s policies toward the United States could become even more hardline. Some observers fear that this could mean a protracted conflict.
President Trump emphasized that 'Epic Fury,' the U.S. military operation against Iran now in its fifth day, would continue. He stated, "We have quickly eliminated Iran's missiles and are also destroying their launchers. We are doing very well and will continue to do so. When someone asked me what score I would give out of 10, I said about 15."
Israel Interferes with Selection of Iran’s Supreme Leader... “Wants Prolonged Chaos”
Israel is also reportedly continuing its operations to obstruct Mojtaba’s rise to power. Citing Israeli military officials, the UK’s Financial Times (FT) reported that "on the 3rd, the Israeli military struck the venue in Qom, Iran, where an expert committee meeting was being held to select the next Supreme Leader. The military’s objective is to block the selection of a new Supreme Leader in Iran and keep the country in a state of turmoil," the FT said.
The U.S. political media outlet Axios, also citing Israeli defense officials, reported that "an airstrike was carried out on the facility while votes for Iran’s next leader were being counted," adding, "We want to prevent them from electing a new Supreme Leader." However, Axios noted that it remains unclear whether all 88 members of the expert council tasked with selecting the Supreme Leader were inside the building at the time, or the extent of the damage.
Iran Attacks Turkiye as Well... “Could Strike Israeli Nuclear Facilities”
In response to relentless offensives from the United States and Israel, Iran has taken a hardline stance, going so far as to launch airstrikes against Turkiye, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
On this day, Turkiye’s Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying, "A ballistic missile headed toward Turkish airspace via Iraq and Syria was quickly intercepted and neutralized by NATO air force and air defense systems deployed in the eastern Mediterranean. We have the right to respond to any hostile act," warning Iran. This is the first time Iran has attacked NATO member Turkiye since its hostilities with the United States and Israel began.
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Iran has also expressed fears of a regime change. Iran's semi-official news agency ISNA quoted a military official as saying, "If the United States and Israel attempt to instigate regime change in Iran, we will target Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility." According to The Guardian, the Dimona facility is suspected to be Israel’s main plutonium production site. Its official name is the Negev Nuclear Research Center, which houses reactors and a plutonium reprocessing plant, and is considered the heart of Israel's nuclear weapons program.
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