Trump Discusses Iran Conflict and New Supreme Leader with Netanyahu

In a recent interview, President Trump discussed the ongoing conflict in Iran, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. He highlighted the need for US approval of Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Khamenei. Trump expressed concerns about Iran's ambitions in the Middle East and the potential for nuclear development, asserting that the US aims to prevent future escalations. This article delves into Trump's statements and the implications for US-Iran relations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 9, 2026, 07:48 IST

Trump's Stance on Iran and Israel

Washington DC: On Sunday, March 8, President Donald Trump stated that any decision regarding the conclusion of the Iran conflict would be made after consultations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview with the Times of Israel, Trump commended Netanyahu, asserting that without their efforts, Iran would have posed a significant threat to Israel. He remarked, "I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything’s going to be taken into account.”

When questioned about Israel's potential continuation of strikes against Iran if the US were to halt its airstrikes, Trump chose not to provide a direct answer. As the conflict in the Middle East reached its tenth day, both the US and Israel persisted with airstrikes targeting Iran. Concurrently, Iran has been retaliating by targeting US military installations and oil facilities across Gulf nations, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

On February 28, coordinated airstrikes by the US and Israel resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Following Khamenei's death, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader, a transition confirmed by Iranian state media early Monday. This marks only the third change in the position since its establishment after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with the first leader being Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and the second being Ali Khamenei, who served for nearly 37 years until his death.

Trump's Remarks on the New Supreme Leader: In the same interview, Trump indicated that the new Iranian Supreme Leader would require approval from the United States. He expressed a desire to prevent any escalation in Iran's situation in the coming years. When asked if he would consider endorsing a leader associated with Iran’s former regime, Trump stated he was open to the possibility. "He’s going to have to get approval from us," Trump told ABC News. "If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it." He further emphasized his intention to avoid a scenario where Iran could develop nuclear capabilities.

Trump also claimed that Iran aimed to dominate the entire Middle East and suggested that his administration had successfully thwarted those ambitions.