"The person will have to be approved by the US. If he does not receive our approval, he will not last long," US President Donald Trump said in an interview with ABC on 8/3, commenting on reports that Iran had elected a Supreme Leader.

The US president emphasized Washington wants to avoid a repeat crisis with Tehran. He is committed to maintaining the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and does not want this concern to re-emerge. "We do not want to return to this problem every 10 years, especially without a decisive president like me," he added.

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, White House, on 3/3. Photo: AP

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, White House, on 3/3. Photo: AP

In an interview with NBC on the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed that Washington is not permitted to interfere in Tehran's internal affairs. He stated that the selection of the Supreme Leader is a process determined by Iranians.

Araghchi stressed that Iran's government apparatus continues to function normally, and "everything remains in its place," despite the deaths of several high-ranking officials. Araghchi suggested that President Trump "needs to apologize to the Iranian people and regional countries" for the devastation caused by the current conflict.

The Iranian foreign minister rejected President Trump's demand for "unconditional surrender," asserting that such a scenario will never happen. Tehran "will continue to resist, no matter how long the war lasts."

The Iranian diplomat warned that even if Washington proposes a ceasefire now, Tehran might not accept it. "After attacking us a second time within one year, they are asking for another ceasefire. How can that be? The war must end permanently. If the parties do not achieve this, we will continue to fight," he said.

These statements followed Iranian media reports that the Assembly of Experts had chosen a new Supreme Leader. Some members of the council indicated the chosen individual received "majority consensus" and had been previously mentioned by the US, but the identity remains unannounced.

The Supreme Leader holds Iran's highest political and religious authority, possessing final decision-making power on national matters. Ali Khamenei held this position from 1989 until his death in an initial US-Israel strike of the campaign on 28/2.

A source suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei, 56 years old, son of Ali Khamenei, could become Iran's new Supreme Leader. Mojtaba Khamenei has extensive influence in Iran and close ties with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij volunteer militia.

By Thanh Danh (Sources: Times of Israel, Reuters, Independent)