U.S. President Donald Trump said that with the vacancy at the top of Iran's leadership, the worst-case scenario would be if someone as evil as the deceased Khamenei seized power.
On the 3rd (local time), President Trump, in a bilateral meeting at the White House with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, referred to military operations against Iran and said, "In the worst case, we do this and someone as bad as the transfer person takes power."
Trump added, "That could happen. We don't want that to happen," and emphasized, "I hope someone who will set Iran right for the people comes to power."
Earlier, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei died on the 28th in a U.S.-Israeli military operation.
Trump said, "Opportunities have been given to the Iranian people, and we have urged them not to (protest) yet," adding, "It's very dangerous outside and many bombs are being dropped."
As for whether Reza Pahlavi, Iran's last crown prince now in exile in the United States, could be an alternative for the next Iranian government, he said, "I haven't thought about it deeply," but added, "Someone from inside (Iran) might be more suitable. There are also more moderate figures."
That is seen as expressing hope for the emergence of a new leadership that is moderate and cooperative with the United States, unlike the previous leadership that continued to suppress anti-government protests and pursue an anti-U.S. line.
Trump then referenced Venezuela after the early-January operation to detain President Nicolás Maduro, saying, "Venezuela was really remarkable in that it fully maintained the government after our strike."
Venezuela is currently taking a cooperative stance with the United States, with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez taking office as acting president after Maduro was extradited.
By bringing this up, Trump is seen as signaling that he wants a scenario in which a conciliatory figure toward the United States from within Iran's existing regime succeeds Khamenei as supreme leader.
However, since Trump previously urged the Iranian people to seize control of the government after the U.S. attack ended, he could face controversy for reversing his position.
Meanwhile, Trump said that in the Iran operation now in its fourth day, the United States is maintaining the upper hand and Iran's navy and air force have been neutralized.
Trump said, "We were negotiating with these madmen, and I thought they would strike first," adding, "If we hadn't done it, they would have attacked first."
That claim suggests Iran was considering a preemptive strike against the United States, and is seen as an attempt to secure justification for the preemptive military operation carried out by the United States and Israel.
Trump added, "Maybe I kind of pushed Israel to take action," but also said, "Israel was ready, and we were ready."
That directly rebuts the popular analysis that this operation resulted from persistent persuasion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of President Trump, and is seen as intended to emphasize that the United States held the initiative and made the decision.
Regarding concerns about international oil prices, Trump said, "For a while, prices may be a little high, but as soon as this is over, prices will come down, and I think they could even fall lower than before the transfer."
Earlier on Truth Social, he said, "The United States will ensure the free flow of energy to the world," and stated that the U.S. Navy would provide military protection for oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.