Mar 5 • 10:40 UTC 🇰🇷 Korea Hankyoreh (KR)

Trump Warns That Successors of Khamenei Will Be Eliminated... Kurds Deployed as a Variable

President Trump warned that anyone aspiring to lead Iran after Khamenei's death may face elimination, hinting at continued U.S. military operations in the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a dire warning regarding the succession of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. During a press event, Trump stated that anyone wishing to take up leadership in Iran will ultimately meet death, indicating that U.S. operations to eliminate Iran's leadership may be ongoing if the new leaders maintain an anti-American stance or pursue nuclear weapons. He emphasized that the process of selecting a successor in Iran is being delayed under these circumstances.

Trump's remarks come in the context of a military vacuum following Khamenei's death, which leaves Iran's political future uncertain. The speculation had initially favored Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as a leading candidate for succession, but the assembly tasked with this decision, comprising 88 experts, has not finalized any choice yet. Amidst these developments, Trump has reported ongoing success in U.S. military operations, claiming they are effectively dismantling Iran's missile capabilities and positing that American pre-emptive actions are necessary to protect allies like Israel from Iranian threats.

Meanwhile, information has surfaced that Iranian Kurdish militias, receiving support from U.S. and Israeli intelligence, may have begun ground operations across the Iranian border. Reports suggest that these Kurdish forces, operating from bases in Iraq, are actively engaging in military action against Iran, raising the specter of a ground conflict in an already volatile environment. This adds another layer to the already complex situation, where military confrontations are increasingly shifting from aerial to ground engagements, thereby complicating the geopolitical landscape further.

📡 Similar Coverage