Trump called on Iranian Kurdish forces to start a war against Iran
During a telephone interview with Reuters, US President Donald Trump said that the United States should be involved in the process of determining Iran's next leader.
"We will have to choose this person together with Iran. We will have to choose this person," he said.
Trump also commented on the possible participation of Iranian Kurdish forces based in Iraq in combat operations on Iranian territory. He said he would support their attacks on Iranian security forces.
"I think it's great that they want to do that. I'm all for it," the president said.
According to him, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is unlikely to become the next leader of Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei was previously named as one of the contenders for this role.
Trump drew a parallel with events in Venezuela. He recalled that in January, American forces removed President Nicolas Maduro, after which his deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, took power.
"We want to be involved in the process of choosing the person who will lead Iran in the future, so that we don't have to come back every five years and do it again and again. We want someone who will be good for the people and for the country," Trump said.
When asked about the possibility of former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, son of the last shah, becoming the new leader, Trump replied that "everyone is in the game," adding that it was too early to talk about it.
The president also commented on the possibility of supporting Kurdish forces, which are considering an offensive against Iranian forces in the west of the country. When asked if the US could provide them with air cover, he replied that he could not disclose such information.
"If they do it, that's fine," he said.
According to three sources familiar with the situation, Kurdish forces based on the border between Iran and Iraq in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan have been consulting with the US in recent days about possible attacks on Iranian security forces.
Trump also said he was closely monitoring the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. This is a narrow sea route between Iran and Oman, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
"They don't have a fleet, you know, the fleet is now at the bottom of the sea. I am watching Ormuz very closely," he said.
According to the president, he is not concerned about rising fuel prices.
"They will fall very quickly when all this is over. And if they rise, they rise. But this is much more important than gasoline prices rising a little," Trump said.
He also said he could not predict the duration of the conflict, but noted that events were developing faster than expected.
"I would say that everything is moving faster than planned and much stronger than anyone could have expected," the president said.
