United States President Donald Trump has criticised Iran for appointing Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader, describing the decision as a “big mistake” amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Trump made the remarks during an interview with NBC News following confirmation that Mojtaba had assumed the powerful position after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
“I think they made a big mistake” in selecting Mojtaba Khamenei, Trump said on Monday.
The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei marks a dramatic transition in Iran’s leadership.
His father, Ali Khamenei, had served as the country’s supreme leader since 1989 and was Iran’s highest political and religious authority until his death.
Reports indicate that Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026, during joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian leadership and military infrastructure in Tehran.
Both Iranian state media and U.S. officials confirmed the death, prompting Iran to declare a 40-day national mourning period.
The decision to appoint Mojtaba was reportedly made by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader.
In earlier remarks, Trump reportedly dismissed the new Iranian leader as a “lightweight,” expressing doubts about his ability to consolidate power during a period of heightened geopolitical tension.
Analysts say Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric with close ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had long been viewed by parts of Iran’s ruling establishment as a potential successor to his father.
Although Iran’s political ideology traditionally rejects hereditary succession, observers say Mojtaba’s influence within the clerical establishment and the Revolutionary Guards helped secure his rise.
During the interview, Trump also addressed speculation about potential U.S. actions targeting Iran’s oil sector, which is a key pillar of the country’s economy.
The president said it was “too soon to talk about” whether Washington might seize Iranian oil resources, but he added that he “doesn’t rule it out.”
While he did not provide details on possible steps, analysts say the statement suggests the United States could consider additional economic or strategic measures against Tehran depending on how the crisis develops.
The leadership change in Iran comes at a time of escalating conflict across the Middle East, with military confrontations and political tensions intensifying between Tehran and Western powers.
Ali Khamenei had ruled Iran for more than three decades, shaping the country’s ideological stance against Israel and the West and playing a central role in supporting the regional alliance often referred to as the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes armed groups across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and the Palestinian territories.
