US President Donald Trump has expressed concern that the assassination of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could lead to a new regime that is “as bad as the previous person”. Speaking at an Oval Office press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump described this as the “worst case” scenario of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Trump acknowledged that while the US and Israel have “very much beaten” Iran militarily, there is a risk that the successor to Khamenei could be equally repressive. “You go through this and then in five years, you realise you put somebody in who was no better,” he said. He urged Iranians not to protest yet, warning that it remains “very dangerous” under the current security apparatus.
The president also claimed that Iran was planning to attack first, contradicting earlier statements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Israel initiated the conflict. “I think they were going to attack first, and I didn’t want that to happen,” Trump said.
Turning to European allies, Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after Madrid refused to allow US use of two jointly operated bases for strikes on Iran. “Spain has been terrible,” Trump said, adding that he had instructed the Treasury secretary to “cut off all dealings” with the country. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares dismissed the threat, stating that the bases operate within the framework of a bilateral treaty.
Trump also criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for delays in granting permission to use British bases, saying, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.” Despite the tensions, the UK has allowed US forces to use its bases for the campaign.
