Donald Trump has said his biggest fear in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran is that regime change could bring in a leader 'as bad as the previous person'. Speaking at an Oval Office press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the US president was asked about the 'worst-case scenario' following the assassination of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday.
Trump expressed confidence in US-Israeli military superiority, claiming Iran was 'very much beaten militarily'. However, he admitted that hopes of a less repressive government could be dashed. 'We go through this and then in five years, you realise you put somebody in who was no better,' he said, urging Iranians not to protest yet due to the danger of the state security apparatus.
The president also threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after the Nato ally refused permission for US strikes on Iran to use two jointly operated bases in southern Spain. 'Spain has been terrible,' Trump said, adding he had told Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to 'cut off all dealings' with the country. Spain's foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, played down the chances of retaliation, stating that the bases operate within the framework of the treaty with the US.
Trump also criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who allowed US forces to use UK bases but took 'three, four days' to sort out landing permissions. 'This is not Winston Churchill that we're dealing with,' Trump said, expressing unhappiness with the UK's response.
