On March 3 local time, regarding the succession of Iran's leader, U.S. President Trump said in response to a journalist's question: "I think the worst case is that we did this (eliminated Khamenei), and the successor is just as bad as the previous one... We don't want this to happen, which could be the worst scenario."
According to U.S. media reports, Trump believes the worst thing is already happening.
The New York Times reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Khamenei, is a major candidate for the next Supreme Leader of Iran.
Trump's remarks are a strong signal to Iran, implying that the United States may not rule out using extreme means to push for a regime change in Iran. This continues his "maximum pressure" policy towards Iran during his first term.
Currently, Trump is most concerned that if Khamenei is gone, the successor might be just as or even more anti-American, leading to a worse situation than now. This indicates that what the U.S. hopes to see is not just a change of the supreme leader, but a fundamental shift in the country's policy direction, such as a more Western-friendly and willing-to-compromise Iran.
Trump's comments serve both as a warning to Iran and reveal the contradictions in the U.S. approach to the Iranian issue. On one hand, it wants to change the status quo through pressure, but on the other hand, it is aware that hardline measures may backfire and make the situation even more uncontrollable.
If the U.S. really takes extreme actions, the consequences would be very serious. Within Iran, hardliners might use nationalist sentiments to consolidate power, making foreign policy even more radical; while reformists, even if they want to change, may find themselves unable to take any steps due to being labeled as traitors. The entire Middle East region could thus see an escalation of tensions.
In summary, the succession issue of Iran's Supreme Leader is a complex and extremely sensitive internal matter. Trump's statements are more of a political statement.
It's just a political statement!
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858698664822848/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.