Trump ‘Not Happy’ With Khamenei’s Son As Choice of New Iran Leader
President Donald J. Trump signaled strong displeasure with Iran’s decision to elevate Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury.
During an interview with Trey Yingst on Fox News, Trump made clear that he doubts the younger Khamenei will enjoy stability or legitimacy in the role.
The president said he does not believe Mojtaba Khamenei “can live in peace,” adding that the results of the ongoing military campaign have already surpassed expectations at this stage. According to Trump, U.S. and Israeli strikes inside Iran have performed “way beyond expectation in terms of results this early.”
Trump also issued a blunt warning to Tehran earlier this week in a post on Truth Social, cautioning the Iranian regime against interfering with the global oil supply through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
The president warned that if Iran attempts to obstruct the passage of oil tankers, the response would be devastating. Trump said Iran would be struck “twenty times harder” if it interferes with the shipping corridor. He further added that the United States could “take out easily destroyable targets that will make it virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back” as a nation — while emphasizing that he hopes the conflict never escalates to that point.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command confirmed that the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign has already inflicted substantial damage on the Iranian military apparatus.
Launched on February 28, Operation Epic Fury has reportedly targeted more than 5,000 locations across Iran in its first 10 days. U.S. officials say the operation has also damaged or destroyed more than 50 Iranian naval vessels.
Military planners focused on dismantling Iran’s most critical warfighting infrastructure. Targets included command-and-control facilities, headquarters belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, intelligence sites, integrated air defense systems, ballistic missile launch complexes, and key naval assets including submarine support facilities and communications networks.
According to Fox News, strikes have also hit anti-ship missile positions and factories involved in producing ballistic missiles and military drones — systems frequently used by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East.
CENTCOM stated Tuesday that American forces are continuing around-the-clock operations aimed at dismantling Iran’s ability to wage war.
“The Iranian regime can try to hide their missile launchers, but U.S. forces won’t stop looking. When we find them, we’re taking them out,” CENTCOM wrote in an overnight post on X, accompanied by video footage showing the destruction of several launch sites.
At the Pentagon, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the United States remains firmly in control as the campaign enters its eleventh day.
“As President Trump declared yesterday, we’e crushing the enemy in an overwhelming display of technical skill and military force,” Hegseth said. “We will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated. But we do so, we do so on our timeline and at our choosing.”
Hegseth added that Tuesday would bring the most intense strikes yet.
“For example, today will be, yet again, our most intense day of strikes inside Iran. The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, intelligence more refined and better than ever,” Hegseth continued. “So that’s on one hand. On the other hand, the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they’ve been capable of firing yet.”
He also accused the Iranian regime of deliberately using civilian locations as cover while its military capabilities are systematically dismantled.
“The mullahs are desperate and scrambling,” Hegseth told reporters. “Like the terrorist cowards they are, they fire missiles from schools and hospitals, deliberately targeting innocents, because they know their military is being systematically degraded and annihilated.”
Hegseth also addressed international involvement in the conflict, stressing that Russia should stay out of the confrontation altogether.
His comments came after President Trump held a phone call Monday with Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
“The president, as I’ve said before, maintains strong relationships with world leaders, which creates opportunities and options for us in very dynamic ways. So the president said it was a good call,” Hegseth said.
“I was not on it, but those that were, said it was a strong call reaffirming, hopefully the opportunity for some for some peace in Russia-Ukraine and also, a recognition that as it pertains to this conflict, they should not be involved,” Hegseth added.