‘Everything knocked out’: Trump urges Iranian 'insider' to take reins after campaign

Trump questions Iran leadership future after strikes

The US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said someone from within Iranian regime might be best choice to take power once US-Israel campaign is finished.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran's last shah, is not someone that his administration has considered in depth to take over leadership in Iran.

Trump was also asked whether he views Reza Pahlavi — the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, as a potential future leader. He responded cautiously, saying that while “some people like him”, the best-case outcome would be that “somebody already there” takes over.

He previously expressed doubts about Pahlavi’s prospects, telling Reuters in January, “I don't know whether or not his country would accept his leadership,” adding, “Certainly if they would, that would be fine with me.”

Trump also warned that the “worst case” scenario for Iran would be the emergence of a new leader who is “as bad” as former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following intensified US–Israeli military action against Tehran.

"I guess the worst case would be, we do this, and then somebody takes over who's as bad as the previous person, right?" he told reporters as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

"That could happen. We don't want that to happen."

Trump claimed that “everything has been knocked out” in Iran after recent strikes, asserting that Tehran had been preparing to attack first. He said Iran was “going to attack first” and suggested the operations had disrupted its ability to carry out retaliation.

The US president also indicated that he “might have forced Israel’s hand” in shaping the response to Iran, signalling close coordination between Washington and Jerusalem during the escalation.

His remarks come amid ongoing hostilities and heightened regional tensions after strikes targeted Iranian assets and leadership structures. US officials maintain the campaign is aimed at degrading Iran’s military capability and deterring further attacks.