Trump says Iran's next supreme leader must have U.S. approval or 'won't last long'
Mar 8th 2026
In an ABC News interview, President Trump said he would demand U.S. approval for Iran's next supreme leader, left open using force to secure enriched uranium, and said he would work with remnants of Iran's regime while claiming U.S. strikes have crippled Iran's military.
- Trump told ABC News he would require U.S. approval for Iran's next supreme leader and warned the leader would not 'last long' without it.
- He said he would be willing to approve figures tied to Iran's old regime to secure a 'good leader.'
- Trump said 'everything is on the table,' including possible special forces operations to seize enriched uranium held in Iran.
- A senior U.S. official told reporters Iran has enough enriched uranium to reach weapons grade in 10 days or less.
- Much of that uranium is believed to be at sites struck during Operation Midnight Hammer, including Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow.
- Trump claimed U.S. strikes have severely degraded Iran's military, said the campaign remains popular with his MAGA base, and downplayed rising gasoline prices.