Trump says ‘someone from within’ Iranian regime might be best choice to lead once war ends

President Trump suggested on Tuesday that “someone from within” the Iranian regime might be the best choice to lead Iran following the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign, but acknowledged that “most of the people we had in mind are dead.”

This statement marks a shift from Trump’s position just four days earlier, when he emphatically called on Iranians to “take over your government” once the bombardment concludes. The president now appears less convinced that the war presents an opportunity to end the theocratic rule established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump revealed the challenge in identifying potential new Iranian leadership. “Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports. So you have a third wave coming. Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody,” he said.

When asked about Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran’s last shah who has positioned himself for a possible return, Trump indicated his administration hasn’t seriously considered him for leadership. “It would seem to me that somebody from within maybe would be more appropriate,” Trump said, suggesting preference for “somebody that’s there, that’s currently popular, if there is such a person” to emerge from the power vacuum.

Trump expressed concern about avoiding a “worst case” scenario where “somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person,” adding, “You go through this, and then in five years you realize you put somebody in who was no better.”

The comments came during Trump’s meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—his first in-person engagement with a foreign leader since the U.S. and Israel launched their campaign against Iran, which has resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous top officials.

The White House has intensified efforts to counter criticism that it moved hastily into an unnecessary war. According to a senior administration official who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity, the president’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had been conducting lengthy negotiations with Iranian representatives, which the U.S. increasingly viewed as stalling tactics.

After recent talks in Geneva, Witkoff and Kushner reportedly told Trump that reaching an “Obama-plus deal”—a nuclear agreement similar to but stronger than the 2015 accord—was possible but would take months. Despite expressing willingness to pursue diplomacy, the negotiators emphasized to Trump that the Iranians were unlikely to make a satisfactory deal.

Meanwhile, Trump sharply criticized European allies for their reluctance to support the military action. He expressed particular frustration with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.” Starmer initially blocked American planes from using British bases for strikes, though later permitted limited use for targeting Iran’s ballistic missiles and storage sites.

Trump also threatened to “cut off all trade with Spain” after Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Spain would not allow use of jointly operated bases for strikes not covered by the UN charter.

The president pushed back against suggestions that Israel had forced the U.S. into the conflict, contradicting Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s earlier statement that “we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action” and had decided to strike preemptively to reduce casualties. “We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to attack,” Trump insisted. “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.”

Chancellor Merz, during the Oval Office meeting, emphasized Germany’s interest in post-war planning, saying Berlin wants to work with the U.S. on a strategy “for when the current Iranian government no longer exists.” He noted the conflict’s economic impact, particularly rising oil prices, implicitly arguing for a swift resolution.

Trump acknowledged the short-term spike in energy prices but predicted, “As soon as this ends, those prices are going to drop, I believe, lower than even before.” According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. jumped 11 cents overnight Tuesday to approximately $3.11.