Trump indicates three preferred candidates to lead Iran

US President Donald Trump has revealed that he has three “very good” preferred candidates to lead Iran, but he declined to disclose their names at this time.

Trump made the remarks following a joint US-Israeli military strike in Iran on Sunday (March 1).

Earlier on Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in joint strike by US and Israel. The US president claimed that 48 senior Iranian officials were also killed in the attacks, including Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandson.

Among the reported casualties were Khamenei’s security advisor Ali Shamkhani, Chief of the Armed Forces General Abdul Rahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohammad Pakpour.

In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said Iran’s new leadership has shown interest in engaging with the US administration, and he has responded positively.

However, regarding the three potential leaders, he said: “I’m not naming them right now. Let’s get the job done first.”

Analysts note that the strike’s focus on top Iranian officials reflects a deliberate US strategy aimed at government change.