Trump Says New Iranian Leader Must 'Treat U.S. and Israel Well'
When pressed during a phone interview with media on whether Iran must transition to a democracy, Trump was unequivocal: "No, I'm saying there has to be a leader that's going to be fair and just."
Trump added that he remains open to a religious figure assuming leadership in Iran, broadening the scope of what Washington would find acceptable in a post-war government.
Outlining his expectations for any future Iranian leadership, Trump said: "Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East -- they're all our partners."
The comments build on remarks Trump made Thursday, in which he openly expressed a desire to have a hand in selecting Iran's next supreme leader — a position that drew sharp condemnation from Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, who denounced the stance as a "colonial approach."
The backdrop to Trump's remarks is the continuing military campaign against Iran, launched jointly by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and a significant number of civilians.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
