Israeli diplomat says ‘nothing changed’ with Iran’s new leader, and what this means for the US is anyone’s guess

President Trump isn’t holding back on his feelings about Iran’s new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stating he’s “not happy” with the appointment and insisting the U.S. must approve Iran’s next leader, as reported by The Hill. This comes after Mojtaba, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was chosen to succeed his father in a move broadly seen as a win for hard-liners in Tehran.

The selection of Mojtaba Khamenei happened on Sunday, with a body of 88 Iranian clerics, known as the Assembly of Experts, making the decision. This appointment follows the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran for nearly 37 years before being killed in the initial wave of joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon made it clear that for Israel, this change at the top doesn’t alter their perspective on diplomatic relations with Iran. Speaking at a press conference in New York, Danon emphasized that swapping out one leader for another doesn’t change the underlying regime or its goals. “Let me be clear, changing the man at the top does not change the regime,” Danon stated, adding, “It is the same ideology, the same nuclear ambitions, the same ballistic missiles, the same terror proxies.”

For Israel, it seems like business as usual despite the leadership change

Danon’s message to Iran’s new leadership was pretty direct, too. He advised them to “Look at what happened to those who thought they could threaten the U.S. and Israel.” Meanwhile, President Trump made his disapproval very public during an interview. He called Mojtaba Khamenei a “lightweight” and stressed that he needs to be involved in the appointment process, drawing a parallel to his involvement with Delcy Rodríguez in Venezuela. “They are wasting their time,” President Trump said.

The president didn’t stop there, either. He further clarified his position, saying, “Khamenei’s son is unacceptable to me. We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran.” This is a pretty bold statement, essentially demanding a say in who leads another sovereign nation, but it definitely sets a clear tone for U.S. expectations.