White House Casts Doubt on Iranian Succession as Trump Signals Escalatory Deterrence #
The Trump administration has moved swiftly to undermine the legitimacy of Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, signaling a continuation of kinetic deterrence in the Persian Gulf. In remarks delivered late Tuesday, President Donald Trump dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei—who assumed the role following the targeted assassination of his father during initial US-Israeli strikes—as a lightweight incapable of securing regional stability. The President’s assertion that the younger Khamenei will not be able to live in peace underscores a muscular American posture designed to…