During the conversation, Trump noted: "They are wasting their time. Khamenei's son is not a heavyweight," commenting on rumors that Mojtaba, the son of the late Supreme Leader, might become his successor.
Trump added: "I must be involved in the appointment, as was the case with Delcy in Venezuela. Khamenei's son is unacceptable to me. We are looking for a person who can bring peace and harmony to Iran."
Delcy Rodriguez, who has been serving as the interim president of Venezuela since January, came to power after the ousting of Nicolás Maduro when she was vice president.
In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump also expressed his desire for a complete change in Iran's leadership and mentioned that he has ideas regarding suitable candidates for the role of a "good leader."
BBC correspondent in North America Will Grant noted that it is hard to imagine how Trump could personally participate in the selection of a new Iranian leader.
From the perspective of the Trump administration, one of Delcy Rodriguez's main merits was her willingness to resolve the conflict in Venezuela, which led to Maduro's ousting. This also gave the U.S. the opportunity to control significant oil resources in Venezuela. However, the situation in South America and the Middle East is fundamentally different, as are the political systems of these countries.
Although the Trump administration seems ready to engage with the remnants of Maduro's regime, it is difficult to envision how the U.S. president could directly participate in the appointment of a new leader of the Islamic theocracy.
