President Trump Reacts to New Supreme Leader: “He’s Not Going to Last Long.”

It’s a historic moment for the Islamic Republic of Iran, but not in a positive way. For the first time since the 1979 revolution, the position of Supreme Leader has effectively been passed down within the same family – something the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was supposed to fundamentally oppose.

The Iranian Assembly of Experts selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to become the next Supreme Leader of Iran.

President Donald Trump has condemned Iran’s election of Mojtaba Khamenei, stating, “He’s going to have to get approval from us. . . .  If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long.”

As reported by the New York Post:

Mojtaba Khamenei — the son of slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — has been tapped as the regime’s next supreme leader, Iranian state media announced Sunday. . . .

“By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the assembly said in a statement.

While Mojtaba has been the favored successor of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Trump condemned the likely appointment as “unacceptable” for the US and vowed it would not bring an end to the war.

“They are wasting their time,” the president told Axios on Thursday, referring to leaders leaning toward Mojtaba.

“Khamenei’s son is a lightweight.

“Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,’’ he said.

Trump insisted nobody will take over Iran unless he’s consulted first, telling ABC News Sunday that a new leader “is not going to last long” without his approval.

Tehran’s new leader will inherit control of the feared IRGC, which has ruled the nation with an iron fist for decades — and a cache of highly enriched uranium that could be used to build a nuclear bomb.

Prior to the vote, the 88-member Assembly of Experts reportedly raised issues over passing the torch to the longtime ayatollah’s son.

Mojtaba has been known for his staunch adherence to his father’s hardline conservatism and anti-Western sentiments that hallmark the Islamic Republic.

Instead of signaling reform or even a tactical pivot while the country is under intense military pressure, the regime appears to be doubling down on the same hardline ideology that defined Ali Khamenei’s rule. Mojtaba Khamenei has long been closely aligned with the IRGC – the powerful military and economic force that protects the regime and exports Iran’s terror operations around the world. Clearly, the message out of Tehran is that the regime has no intention of backing down.

That bold message comes as the United States and Israel continue what has been a remarkably effective air campaign against Iran. Over the weekend, explosions lit up the skies over Iranian oil facilities and infrastructure, putting increasing pressure on the regime’s economic lifelines.

For years, military experts warned that any large-scale conflict with Iran would come at an enormous cost in American lives. Yet what we’ve seen so far suggests the opposite. Iranian military capabilities have been heavily pounded, and the regime’s ability to respond appears increasingly limited.

That reality may help explain President Trump’s comment that Iran’s newly installed leader is “not going to last long” – a remarkable statement considering the role the Supreme Leader represents in Iran. The position isn’t just symbolic. The Ayatollah serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and sits at the very top of Iran’s political and military power structure.

But now some have begun to question if that’s still the case. Does Mojtaba Khamenei now have the power his predecessors once held? Or is he being installed as a symbol – or maybe, a puppet?

Some analysts believe the real power may rest with the IRGC itself. It controls enormous financial resources, runs major portions of Iran’s economy, and oversees many of the regime’s proxy forces – including terrorist groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. Those notorious militias have been responsible for attacks across the Middle East and against American forces for decades.

So, installing Mojtaba Khamenei could be less about consolidating power and more about preserving the appearance of stability while the regime faces mounting pressure. However, President Trump has stated that the only acceptable outcome is “unconditional surrender” for the war to end.

Meanwhile, the conflict is beginning to have ripple effects far beyond the region.

Here in the United States, authorities have been on heightened alert following reports that U.S. intelligence intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that could potentially activate sleeper assets abroad.

As a result, aviation security has tightened dramatically, several flights were diverted over the weekend, and there were bomb-threat evacuations at an airport in Kansas City. Fortunately, none of those incidents resulted in casualties, but they underscore the concern about potential retaliation.

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included more discussion with ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow of the appointment of the former Ayatollah’s son as Iran’s newest Supreme Leader. We also spoke with the head of ACLJ Jerusalem, Jeff Ballabon, who joined us from New York, where he’s attending the Law and Antisemitism Conference. 

Watch the full broadcast below: