Trump says US should have a say in choosing Iran’s next leadership

US President Donald Trump told Reuters on Thursday the United States must be involved in choosing the next leader of Iran, Reuters writes.

Trump said in a ‌telephone interview that he thinks the next leader of Iran is unlikely to be the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son, who has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed his father.

“We’re going to have to choose that person along with Iran. We’re going to have to choose that person,” Trump said.

On leadership succession in the Islamic Republic, the US president drew a parallel to Venezuela, where US ​forces removed President Nicolas Maduro in January, leaving in charge Delcy Rodriguez, his number two, who Trump said “has done a wonderful job.”

Trump also told Reuters it ​would be “wonderful” if Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq were to cross into Iran to launch attacks on security forces there.

“I think it’s wonderful that they want ⁠to do that, I’d be all for it,” the US president said.