rumpU.S. President Donald Trump said he wants the United States to play a role in determining Iran’s future leadership as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.
In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump stated that Washington should be involved in selecting the individual who will lead Iran in the future. He also suggested that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is unlikely to succeed his father.
The remarks came as U.S. and Israeli forces continued coordinated strikes across Iran, targeting military assets and infrastructure. U.S. officials said American forces have struck at least 30 Iranian vessels, including a large drone carrier, while B-2 bombers carried out attacks on missile launch sites and production facilities.
Meanwhile, Iran launched retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. A missile strike also caused a fire at a refinery in Bahrain, according to reports.
The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents in several parts of Tehran as airstrikes intensified, with Iranian state media reporting multiple explosions across the capital. Authorities said an airstrike on a guesthouse near Tehran killed 17 people.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States has sufficient munitions to sustain military operations, adding that Iran’s missile and drone attacks have significantly decreased since the start of the conflict.
The conflict has also drawn in other countries in the region. Azerbaijan accused Iran of launching drones into its territory and temporarily closed its southern airspace, though Tehran denied the claim.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran since the fighting began. Additional casualties have been reported in neighboring countries, including Lebanon.
The war has also affected global markets, with rising oil prices and disruptions to energy supplies impacting economies worldwide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had achieved significant military gains but warned that further operations were planned, including strikes on underground missile facilities.
Iranian officials have condemned the attacks and vowed retaliation, with senior commanders stating that Iranian forces will continue to target American interests in the region.