Iran’s foreign minister pushed back Sunday against the idea that anyone outside the country — including President Trump — will have a say in choosing the Islamic republic’s next supreme leader.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the succession process is strictly an internal matter.
“We allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs. This is up to the Iranian people to elect their new leader,” Mr. Araghchi said. “It’s only the business of the Iranian people and nobody else’s business.”
His comments came after Mr. Trump last week said he should play a role in determining who succeeds the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
Mr. Trump compared his intended involvement to his role in clearing the way for Delcy Rodriguez to become Venezuela’s interim president after approving the U.S. military operation that removed President Nicolas Maduro from power.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight,” Mr. Trump told Axios. “I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela.”
Mr. Trump also ruled out Mojtaba Khamenei — son of the assassinated supreme leader and a leading candidate to succeed him — saying his rise to power would be unacceptable and could force the U.S. back to war within five years.
“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Mr. Trump said.
Under Iran’s constitution, the next supreme leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, an 88‑member elected clerical council.
Earlier this month, the Israeli air force struck a building in Qom tied to the assembly, but Iranian officials dismissed the hit, saying it was an old auxiliary site no longer used for official meetings.
Mr. Araghchi said Sunday that Iran’s interim leadership council is running the country while the assembly carries out its work.
Asked whether Mojtaba Khamenei would succeed his father, Mr. Araghchi was noncommittal.
“Well, nobody knows,” he said. “Actually, there are lots of rumors around.”
