The President of the United States, Donald Trump, classified the choice of Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the new supreme leader of Iran as a “serious mistake” this Monday (9). The statement was made in an interview with the broadcaster NBC.
“I think they made a big mistake. I don’t know if it will last. I think they made a mistake,” said the Republican.
Mojtaba assumed leadership of Iran after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, eliminated in the first attacks of the ongoing American and Israeli military operation against Iran, which began on February 28.
In turn, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin expressed “unwavering” support for Iran following Mojtaba’s election as his father’s successor.
“Russia has been and will continue to be a reliable partner of the Islamic Republic. I wish it success in the difficult tasks it faces,” the dictator said in the congratulatory message released by the Kremlin.
Putin also reaffirmed Moscow’s solidarity with “Iranian friends” and declared his confidence that the new leader “will honorably continue his father’s work” and unite the country “during these difficult trials.”
According to the Kremlin, Putin spoke on Friday (6) with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, to whom he reiterated his condolences for the death of Ali Khamenei and members of his family. In a previous contact, on March 1st, the Russian dictator had classified the Ayatollah’s murder as a “cynical violation” of all norms.
Leading the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, where he has had Iranian support for years, Putin last week called for an “immediate cessation of hostilities” and a return to diplomacy.
Also this Monday, Putin and Trump spoke by phone for the first time this year. According to the Kremlin’s adviser on international affairs, Yuri Ushakov, the call lasted about an hour and was described as “frank” and “constructive”. According to the Russian regime, the two leaders discussed, among other topics, events in Iran and Venezuela, targeted by the White House in January during a US operation that culminated in the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro.
