Trump says 'some good candidates' could emerge to lead Iran after Khamenei’s death
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said that there are “some good candidates” who could lead Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting the dramatic shift in Tehran’s leadership could create space for diplomacy.
Speaking in a phone interview with CBS News, Trump said the impact of US and Israeli military strikes has fundamentally altered the balance of power and made a diplomatic resolution more achievable than before.
“Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously,” Trump said when asked about prospects for diplomacy. “Because they are getting beat up badly.”
Trump says ‘a great day for the world'
Trump expressed strong confidence in the results of Saturday’s strikes, praising them as both strategically effective and globally significant.
“It was a great day for this country, a great day for the world,” he said, describing the coordinated military action as a major blow to Iran’s leadership and military capabilities.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump announced that Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader for nearly 37 years, was killed in the strikes.
Succession uncertainty in Tehran
Asked directly about who might govern Iran in the wake of Khamenei’s death, Trump said only that “there are some good candidates,” declining to identify any individuals or outline a preferred succession path.
His comments come as Iran faces one of the most serious political crises since the 1979 revolution, with its long-standing leadership structure shaken amid ongoing military pressure and regional instability.
Trump said he spent much of Saturday in consultations with senior US officials and world leaders as Washington closely tracked Iran’s military response across the region.
Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Israel and carried out attacks targeting US allies elsewhere in the Middle East. While Trump said retaliation was expected, he noted that the scale of Iran’s response so far appeared smaller than anticipated.
“It’s what we expected,” Trump said. “We thought it’d be double. Thus far, it’s been less than we thought.” He cautioned, however, that the situation remains fluid and could change rapidly.
Democrats urge transparency and consultation
On Capitol Hill, Republicans largely voiced support for the president’s actions, praising the strikes as decisive. Some Democrats urged greater transparency and consultation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the administration to brief Congress and the public on “the scope and immediacy of the threat” posed by Iran and the justification for the military campaign.
When asked whether he intended to work with lawmakers on Iran-related decisions, Trump said cooperation with Congress remains his preference.
“I always want to work with Congress. Always,” he said.
