Iran chooses new leader; Trump warns ‘won’t last’

US president Donald Trump on Sunday warned that Iran’s next supreme leader would not “last long” without U.S. approval, as Tehran prepared to announce a successor to slain leader Ali Khamenei amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking to ABC News, Trump said Iran’s next leader would have to secure Washington’s approval to remain in power. “He’s going to have to get approval from us,” Trump said. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.”
His remarks came as Iran’s powerful clerical body, the Assembly of Experts, reportedly reached a decision on the country’s next supreme leader. Members of the body said the name of the successor would be announced soon.
The meeting of the Assembly took place nine days after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Khamenei’s compound killed the long-time leader and plunged the Middle East into a wider war.
‘Iran capable of 6-month intense war’: Meanwhile, Iran’s elite military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the country could sustain an intense war against the United States and Israel for at least six months.
Tensions across the region continued to rise, with several Gulf states reporting missile and drone attacks allegedly launched by Iran. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone targeting the diplomatic quarter in the capital, Riyadh, adding that there were no casualties or damage.
Kuwait also reported that fuel tanks at the country’s international airport were targeted by Iranian drones.
Trump also blamed Iran for a deadly strike on an elementary school in Minab, which Iranian officials said killed at least 150 people. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said, “We think it was done by Iran. Because they are very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions.”
The conflict further intensified after the Israeli military said it carried out strikes on Iranian commanders in Beirut early Sunday, expanding its assault into the Lebanese capital after days of attacks that have reportedly left nearly 400 people dead.
However, Iran rejected calls for a ceasefire. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News’ programme Meet the Press that Tehran must continue fighting. “We have to continue fighting for the sake of our people,” he said.
Araghchi also argued that the United States and Israel had already violated the ceasefire that ended last year’s 12-day conflict. “And now you want to ask for a ceasefire again? This doesn’t work like this,” he said.