‘We’ll see what happens’: Trump reacts to Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment as Iran’s new Supreme Leader

WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has declined to offer a formal assessment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s elevation as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, sufficing with the brief remark, “We’ll see what happens.”

The 56-year-old was designated to the country’s highest office by the 88-member Assembly of Experts. The clerical body confirmed he was “appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts”.

This transition occurs amidst significant regional volatility, following a military campaign that resulted in the death of the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a conversation with The Times of Israel, Trump declined to provide an extensive critique of the selection, despite his previous public assertions that the younger Khamenei was a “lightweight” and an “unacceptable” candidate.

President Trump says he is “NOT HAPPY” after Mojtaba Khamenei was selected as Iran’s new Supreme Leader, adding: “We’ll See What Happens.” pic.twitter.com/kF01UbWGZg

— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) March 9, 2026

Before the official announcement, Trump had expressed a desire for a role in the succession process. Speaking to ABC News, he suggested that the longevity of any new Iranian leader depended on American recognition, stating: “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long”.

Despite these warnings and the ongoing conflict, the Assembly of Experts maintained a firm position. The clerical body noted that it “did not hesitate for a minute” in finalising the succession, despite what it characterised as “the brutal aggression of the criminal America and the evil Zionist regime”.

Internal support for the new leader was swiftly formalised by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The elite force declared it was “ready for complete obedience and self-sacrifice in carrying out the divine commands of the Guardian Jurist of the time, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei.”

The Times of Israel highlighted that Mojtaba Khamenei has long operated as his father’s “gatekeeper,” a role that allowed him to cultivate substantial influence within the nation’s security and political frameworks. His lack of a formal government role has previously sparked domestic debate, with critics questioning the optics of dynastic succession in a post-revolutionary state.

The appointment has drawn sharp threats from regional adversaries. According to The Times of Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that any individual chosen to lead the Iranian administration would be considered “an unequivocal target for elimination.”

The Israeli military reiterated this stance on Sunday, cautioning that it would “continue to pursue any successor and any person who seeks to appoint a successor” to the previous leadership. They explicitly warned those participating in the selection meeting that they would “not hesitate to target you, either.”

In response to external pressure, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the nation would “allow nobody to interfere in our domestic affairs.” He insisted that the choice of leader remained an internal Iranian matter, independent of foreign approval.

Observers note that the new leader’s rise is closely tied to his history as a “master’s son” who eventually became, in his father’s words, “a master himself.” His background includes service in the Iran-Iraq war and deep theological studies in Qom, positioning him as a figure of continuity for the regime’s hardline elements.

The Times of Israel further reported that Mojtaba Khamenei has faced US sanctions since 2019. These measures were imposed over his efforts to “advance his father’s destabilising regional ambitions and oppressive domestic objectives,” underscoring the long-standing friction between him and the West. (ANI)