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Trump says he wants to be involved in picking Iran's next leader as war ripples across the region - AP News

📉 The U.S. and Israel have bombed Iran for six consecutive days, with strikes targeting military capabilities, leadership, and the nuclear program.

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan accused Iran of drone attacks on its territory, escalating the regional conflict beyond immediate adversaries.

⚠️ Thousands of citizens are stranded across the Middle East as governments rush to evacuate their nationals amid the widening war.

💣 Israeli tanks were moved to the Lebanon border as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified significantly.

👨‍🏫 U.S. President Donald Trump stated he should be involved in picking Iran’s next supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

🚫 Trump ruled out Mojtaba Khamenei, a potential successor to his father, and criticized him as a "lightweight."

💰 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that American firepower against Tehran is about to surge dramatically.

⚖️ The House voted to continue bombardment after defeating a resolution to halt the attack, while the Senate had previously rejected a similar measure.

🛡️ Trump promised Iranian civilians "total immunity" under U.S. protection if they take back their country from the current regime.

🤝 Iran’s ambassador denied reports that Tehran wants to negotiate, citing a lack of trust with President Trump after failed nuclear talks.

🌊 The U.S. Navy is accused by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi of committing an atrocity for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.

💀 Casualties have reached at least 1,230 in Iran, over 120 in Lebanon, around a dozen in Israel, and six U.S. troops killed.

🌍 The conflict now impacts 14 countries across the Middle East and beyond, disrupting oil supplies and global air travel.

🏥 A stranded passenger was forced to sleep on the floor of Dubai International Airport as operations resumed only in limited capacity.

📸 Mourners reached out to coffins during funerals for victims killed in Isfahan, Iran, following the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign.

Bullish Signals
  • U.S. President Donald Trump has promised 'total immunity' for the Iranian people during the war and ongoing dangers under the current regime.
  • The House Republicans voted to continue bombardment with enough support to defeat a resolution to halt the attacks.
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated American firepower over Tehran is 'about to surge dramatically'.
  • Israeli military strikes have already destroyed most of Iran's air defenses and missile launchers.
  • Trump expressed a desire to see someone bring harmony and peace to Iran, specifically ruling out Mojtaba Khamenei.
  • Trump compared his involvement in leadership appointments to the U.S. action in Venezuela, referencing Delcy Rodríguez taking power in January.
  • AP correspondent reports another Iranian ship may be targeted, continuing the pressure campaign against Iran's capabilities.
Risk Factors
  • U.S. and Israel have conducted nationwide strikes against Iran's military capabilities, leadership, and nuclear program for a sixth consecutive day, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that firepower over Tehran is about to surge dramatically.
  • The conflict has already claimed at least 1,230 lives in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon, around a dozen in Israel, and six U.S. troops have been killed during the military campaign.
  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an atrocity at sea for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people.
  • Fighting has spread to Azerbaijan with accusations of drone attacks, disrupted oil supplies, and snarled global air travel as governments rush citizens away from conflict zones.
  • U.S. President Donald Trump's comments about being involved in choosing Iran's next supreme leader and targeting minority ethnic groups have raised concerns that the U.S. and Israel may seek the overthrow of the Islamic Republic rather than just policy changes.
  • Iran has not requested talks with the U.S., with Ambassador Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour stating there will be no trust in Trump after a failed nuclear deal and subsequent war.
  • Israeli tanks have been transferred to Lebanon's border as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, with Israeli military strikes destroying most of Iran's air defenses and missile launchers.
  • Hundreds of thousands of people remain stranded across the Middle East while major hubs like Dubai International Airport resume only limited operations amid the widening regional conflict.
Full Analysis
U.S. President Donald Trump stated Thursday that he intends to be involved in selecting Iran's next supreme leader as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate for a sixth day. During remarks at the White House and an interview with Axios, Trump ruled out Mojtaba Khamenei, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s son and a front-runner for succession after the late leader was killed during the opening strikes of the war. Trump characterized Khamenei as "a lightweight" and vowed U.S. involvement similar to the intervention in Venezuela with Delcy Rodríguez taking power after Nicolás Maduro's capture, while promising Iranian people "total immunity" or "absolutely guaranteed death" depending on their actions. The regional conflict has expanded significantly, with Azerbaijan accusing Iran of drone attacks on its territory and vowing retaliation, a claim Tehran denied. The war now impacts an additional 14 countries across the Middle East and beyond, with Israeli tanks transferred to the Lebanon border amidst escalating fighting with Hezbollah-allied forces. Casualties have mounted, with officials reporting at least 1,230 deaths in Iran, over 120 in Lebanon, around a dozen in Israel, and six U.S. troops killed during the bombardment of Iranian military capabilities, leadership, and nuclear program. Diplomatic efforts remain tense as Iran's ambassador to Egypt, Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, rejected claims that Tehran seeks talks with the United States to end the war, citing a lack of trust following failed nuclear deal negotiations. Meanwhile, the conflict disrupted oil supplies and global air travel, prompting governments worldwide to evacuate citizens stranded across the region. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned American firepower over Tehran was "about to surge dramatically," while Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. Navy of committing an atrocity for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people.