Trump Demands Say in Iran's Next Supreme Leader, Calls Mojtaba Khamenei "Unacceptable"
U.S. urges Iranian leaders to surrender as strikes escalate and Assembly of Experts prepares to name a successor within days.
New York PostIran unleashes brutal barrage on Qatar, continues widespread airstrikes as Middle East conflict rages
CBS NewsArab states running dangerously low on interceptors to take down Iranian-fired missiles, officials say
PBS NewsHourIranian drone, missile attacks on Gulf nations risk pulling more countries into war
The AtlanticWho Is the U.S. Actually at War With Right Now?
Overview
U.S. and Israeli strikes have killed roughly 920–1,230 people, hit about 2,000 targets, destroyed roughly 80% of Iran's air defenses and 60% of its missile launchers, and displaced more than 80,000 people in Lebanon, officials said.
Trump told Reuters and Axios he must have a role in choosing Iran's next supreme leader, called Mojtaba Khamenei "unacceptable" and "a lightweight," and urged Iranian leaders to accept surrender in exchange for immunity.
The Assembly of Experts is expected to select Iran's next supreme leader within a week, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned the U.S. is "about to surge dramatically" with additional air and defensive capabilities.
The U.S. has deployed roughly 50,000 troops, more than 200 fighter jets, and two aircraft carriers to the region, and has paused operations at its embassy in Kuwait City and a consulate in Karachi.
China said it will dispatch envoy Zhai Jun to the region, and Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi called the sinking of the frigate Dena an "atrocity at sea."
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the coverage as an escalating U.S.-Israel offensive that positions President Trump as seeking regime-change influence. editorial choices use vivid verbs ("hammered," "pounded," "battered") and casualty tallies to emphasize cost, while sourcing concentrates on official u.s./israeli statements and Trump quotes, marginalizing Iranian civilian perspectives.
FAQ
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026.
Objectives include toppling the Islamic Republic, preventing nuclear capabilities, dismantling Iran's missile program, neutralizing naval forces, eliminating threats from the Axis of Resistance, and safeguarding U.S. and Israeli interests.
Iran launched missile barrages at Israel using Emad and Ghadr missiles, targeted over 14 U.S. bases in countries like Bahrain, UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, and struck Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave.
Iran's Assembly of Experts is the body responsible for selecting the next Supreme Leader.
Arab states face interceptor shortages and requested expedited U.S. supplies; 10 Iranian agents arrested in Qatar; Azerbaijan's forces on high alert after drone strike on Nakhchivan.
