US President Donald Trump expressed concern about who might lead Iran after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in recent US-Israeli strikes. He said the situation could worsen if another hardline leader takes power.

“The worst-case scenario for Iran would be if somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person," Trump said. He added, “That could happen. We don’t want that to happen. We’d like to see somebody in there, bring it back to the people, and we’ll see what happens."

Trump stressed that the United States hopes for a more moderate leadership in Tehran. He suggested that such a figure should ideally come from within Iran.

White House Considered Possible Successors

Trump revealed that the White House had evaluated several possible candidates who could take control in Iran. However, he noted that some of those individuals are no longer alive.

“Pretty soon, we’re not going to know anybody," he said. He further added, “If there’s such a person, but we have people like that. We have people … more moderate."

His remarks indicated that Washington prefers a leadership shift that reduces tensions rather than intensifies them.

Trump Dismisses Claims of Israeli Pressure

Meanwhile, Trump rejected suggestions that Israel pushed the United States into launching strikes. He insisted that the decision was independent.

“They were going to attack if we didn’t do it, they were going to attack first," he said. He added, “I felt strongly about that."

Trump even suggested that the US may have influenced Israel’s timing. “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand, but Israel was ready and we were ready and we’ve had a very, very powerful impact because virtually everything they have has been knocked out. Now their missile count is going way down."

Reaction to Iran’s Counterattacks

Trump also spoke about Iran’s retaliatory strikes in the region. He claimed that Tehran targeted countries that had maintained neutral positions.

“Amazingly, they’re hitting countries that were, you know, let’s call them neutral, right? They lived together for a long time. … I think they were surprised. I was surprised, and now those countries are all fighting against them and fighting strongly against them," he said.

Criticism of Attacks on Civilian Areas

The US President accused Iran of striking civilian locations. He contrasted those actions with US military operations.

“The level of evil that we’re dealing with- they’ll hit people that were actually at least somewhat friendly, and they had no problems with. Also hitting only civilian places, hotels and apartment buildings, and we’re hitting them where it is much more appropriate, we’re hitting them very hard," Trump said.

Overall, Trump signaled that Washington wants a change in Iran’s leadership but prefers a moderate figure who could stabilise the country and ease regional tensions.