U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “not happy” with Iran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump said he doubts the new leader will be able to govern peacefully, suggesting that the situation surrounding Iran’s leadership could remain unstable.
Trump also highlighted what he described as the success of the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury. According to U.S. Central Command, more than 5,000 targets in Iran have been struck since the operation began on February 28. Trump said the initial strikes destroyed around 50% of Iran’s missile capabilities, arguing that the early attacks significantly weakened Iran’s ability to respond.
The president said the surprise timing of the operation played a key role in its success, noting that the strikes were carried out when Iranian officials were not expecting an attack. He added that delaying the operation could have allowed Iran to launch its own offensive against Israel and other countries in the region.
Trump also said it remains possible that talks with Iranian officials could take place, claiming that Tehran has shown interest in negotiations. However, he stressed that any dialogue would depend on the terms offered.
During the interview, Trump expressed surprise that Iran responded to the strikes by targeting Gulf countries that were not directly involved in the attacks, describing the move as unexpected.
