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 news 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.
Trump expressed confidence in US-Israeli military superiority, stating that Iran is “beaten militarily” and that strikes are destroying missile stocks. However, he admitted that hopes for a less repressive government might be dashed. “You go through this and then in five years, you realise you put somebody in who was no better,” he said.
The president urged Iranians not to protest yet, warning that it is “very dangerous out there” as long as the state security apparatus remains intact. He also claimed Iran was about to attack first, walking back earlier statements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Israel triggered the war.
Trump threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after the Nato ally refused to allow US strikes on Iran from jointly operated bases. “Spain has been terrible,” he said, ordering the Treasury secretary to sever dealings with Madrid. Spanish officials downplayed the threat, saying the bases operate within treaty frameworks.
The US president also criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for delays in approving use of British bases. “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump said, expressing frustration at the slow coordination.
