United States President Donald Trump has announced that U.S. troops could “possibly” be sent on the ground in Iran, as the war continues.
Trump made the remarks on Saturday, March 7, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, reiterating that he wants to be involved in the selection of Iran’s next leader and saying he doesn’t “want to come back every 10 years.”
According to the president, U.S. ground troops could “possibly” be sent into Iran, but there would have to be a “very good reason.”
Pressed whether he would consider using ground troops to secure enriched uranium at Iran’s nuclear sites, Trump also said it’s a possibility, but not right now.
“We’ll find out about that. We haven’t talked about it. It was a total obliteration. They haven’t been able to get to it. And at some point, maybe we will. It would be a great thing but right now we’re just decimating them, but we haven’t gone after it,” the president said.
“But something we could do later on. We wouldn’t do it now.”
Status of Khamenei’s heir Mojtaba unknown
His remarks came amid reports that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of slain Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a leading contender to succeed him, was reportedly wounded in an Israeli strike earlier this week but survived.
According to an Israeli official, Mojtaba was reportedly injured during what Israeli officials described as an assassination attempt amid the ongoing campaign targeting Iranian leadership.
The cleric has not appeared publicly since the strike that killed his father and dozens of senior Iranian officials last week.
Reports cited by Israeli officials say Mojtaba was wounded, while his wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, was reportedly killed in the same strikes.
The operation was part of Israel’s broader campaign targeting senior figures linked to Iran’s leadership and security establishment.
These developments come as Iran’s clerical leadership prepares to appoint a new supreme leader. Mohammad Mozafari, a member of Iran’s powerful Assembly of Experts, said the body is expected to convene within the next 24 hours to discuss the succession.
The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally responsible for appointing Iran’s supreme leader. Mozafari told Iran’s state-linked Fars News Agency that the meeting would initiate the formal process of choosing a successor following Khamenei’s death.
The clerical body consists of senior Islamic scholars who hold the authority to appoint and, in theory, remove the country’s supreme leader.
Senior religious authorities have urged the Assembly to move quickly. Two prominent Shia clerics — Hossein Nouri Hamedani and Naser Makarem Shirazi — called for the prompt selection of a new leader.
Also Read: Iranian Ayatollahs Push for Quick Appointment of Khamenei’s Successor
According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, Nouri Hamedani said appointing a successor quickly would help maintain unity and support Iran’s armed forces during the ongoing conflict.
Makarem Shirazi also said swift action would help organize national affairs following the death of the long-time supreme leader.
In recent days, senior clerics have also issued religious rulings calling for responses to Khamenei’s killing.
Leading candidate
Before the attack, Mojtaba Khamenei had been widely viewed as a front-runner to replace his father. According to reporting cited by The New York Times, his name was discussed as a leading candidate during recent meetings of the Assembly of Experts.
Mojtaba has long held influence within Iran’s political and clerical establishment, although he has never held a formal senior government office. His current condition and location have not been publicly confirmed since the strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would be open to dealing with a new religious leader in Iran.
Speaking in an interview with CNN, Trump said the identity of Iran’s next leader would determine Washington’s approach.
“Well, I may be, yeah. It depends on who the person is,” Trump said when asked whether he would accept another religious leader in Iran.
“I deal with a lot of religious leaders, and they are fantastic.”
Also Read: ‘Must Pay’: Iran Issues Direct Threat to Trump Blaming Him for Khamenei Killing
Trump also said Iran had changed significantly since the recent strikes. “Iran is not the same country it was a week ago,” he said. “A week ago, they were powerful.”
Trump on new leadership
Asked whether he was insisting Iran must become a democracy, Trump said he was focused on leadership that would deal fairly with the United States and regional partners.
“There has to be a leader that’s going to be fair and just,” he said.
The President on Thursday said he wants to be involved in choosing the next supreme leader of Iran. The president voiced opposition to appointing Mojtaba to replace his slain father.
“They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment,” Trump told Axios.
He added that he would prefer to have a leader like Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, who succeeded Nicolas Maduro after he was abducted by U.S. forces in January.
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