Trump Expresses Displeasure Over Iran's New Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

President says Khamenei's son is a "lightweight" and must get U.S. approval to lead Iran.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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President Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction with Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who was named to the position over the weekend following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, in U.S.-Israeli strikes. Trump called the younger Khamenei a "lightweight" who would be "unacceptable" to lead Iran, and said the new leader would need to get approval from the U.S. before taking power.

Why it matters

The transition of power in Iran is a significant geopolitical event, as the supreme leader holds immense influence over the country's policies and direction. Trump's vocal opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei taking over suggests continued tensions between the U.S. and Iran, even after the recent conflict.

The details

Mojtaba Khamenei, 57, has deep ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has worked behind the scenes while his father was in charge. Trump has said the worst-case scenario would be for Iran to end up with a leader even worse than before the U.S. intervened, and has stated that Khamenei's son is a "lightweight" who would be "unacceptable" to lead Iran. The president has also said the new leader would need to get approval from the U.S. before taking power, similar to the situation in Venezuela.

  • Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran's new supreme leader over the weekend, according to Iranian state media.
  • Trump spoke with Fox News on Sunday and said he is "not happy" with Khamenei's ascendance.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has expressed strong opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei becoming Iran's new supreme leader.

Mojtaba Khamenei

The 57-year-old son of the late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was named as the new supreme leader of Iran over the weekend.

Ali Khamenei

The former supreme leader of Iran who was killed in the U.S.-Israeli strikes, paving the way for his son Mojtaba to take over.

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What they’re saying

“I am not happy.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Fox News)

“Khamenei's son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Axios)

What’s next

The U.S. will likely continue to closely monitor the situation in Iran and exert pressure to try to influence the leadership transition.

The takeaway

Trump's strong opposition to Mojtaba Khamenei's ascension to power in Iran suggests the U.S. will continue to take a hardline stance towards the Islamic Republic, even after the recent conflict, underscoring the ongoing tensions between the two countries.