Trump demands involvement in choosing Iran's next Supreme Leader
Donald Trump has requested to be involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader as his bombing campaign on the Islamic republic rages on.
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The US president likened the situation to that of Venezuela earlier this year, where he was able to play a part in choosing Delcy Rodriguez to succeed ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro.
"They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is a lightweight.
"I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela," he told the New York Post.
In the same interview, the US leader hit out at Sir Keir Starmer once again over his response to the war in Iran.
“It was very disappointing – his performance, having to do with our tremendous attack on a hostile nation.
“I was very surprised at Keir. Very disappointed.”
Iran’s former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US and Israeli strikes on Saturday.
Read more: Iran war LIVE: Israel 'moving to next stage' of war with Iran as strikes rain down on Lebanon
His son Mojtaba was named as Iran's new Supreme Leader, Iranian media announced earlier this week.
Iran International reported that Mojtaba, who has links to the regime's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was chosen by the Assembly of Experts to succeed his father on Tuesday.
Mojtaba, 56, is the second-eldest son of the slain leader.
Threats to Mojtaba's life led to the postponement of the late Supreme Leader's funeral in Tehran over safety fears.
The three-day funeral was set to begin on Wednesday, with images showing preparations well underway.
However, state media insisted the cancellation comes amid “anticipation of unprecedented turnout" with a "new date will be announced later".
Meanwhile, Israel has announced it is "moving to the next phase of the operation" against Iran and warned it will "further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities".
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel and the US have been "strategically isolating" Iran and bringing it to a point of weakness "unlike any it has known”.
He said Israel has been bombing Iran for six days "without pause" and the "operation is proceeding at the pace we planned it to advance at".
"After completing the surprise strike phase, in which we established air superiority and suppressed the ballistic missile array, we are now moving to the next phase of the operation.
"In this phase, we will further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities. We have additional surprises ahead which I do not intend to disclose," he said in a statement.
He added Hezbollah made "a strategic error" in Lebanon for getting involved, adding that "striking with force, on the front line and deeper in Lebanon".
Smoke was seen billowing over southern Beirut shortly after the announcement as fresh strikes were launched by Tel Aviv.
Earlier on Thursday, Tehran launched seven ballistic missiles at the United Arab Emirates, with the country's defences shooting down six of them, its Ministry of Defence said in a statement.