E-Paper
‘No thank you’: Trump says no one wants to be Iran's Supreme Leader
The comments by Donald Trump comes as Iran has denied a 15-point plan offered by the US through Pakistan to pause the Middle East conflict.
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that no one wants to take on the role of being the Supreme Leader of Iran. "There has never been a head of a country that wanted that job less," the US President said during a fundraiser event, adding that the sentiment prevails that whoever takes on the job “will be killed.”
While speaking at an event of at National Republican Congressional Committee, Trump reiterated his claim that he has settled eight wars and is currently winning "a big one" in the Middle East.
Trump added that Iran wants to make a "deal very badly" but said that none of the leaders can say it out loud because they are afraid "their own people will kill them. They are also afraid that they will be killed by us."
"There's never been a head of a country that wanted that job less than being the head of Iran. "I don't want it!"," said Trump, referring to Iranians.
“We listen to some of the things they say, we hear them very clearly. They say “ I don't want it”. They say, ”we would like to make you the next Supreme Leader" "No, thank you, I don't want it," Trump was heard as saying, referring to the "fear" surrounding the post.
Trump's remarks also refer to the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's current supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was also reportedly injured in the initial IS-Israeli strikes.
Follow for live updates on US-Iran war
Trump's comments also come at a time when Iran and the US are countering each other in negotiations for a possible ceasefire. While the US claims to have carried out “productive talks” with Iran, Tehran has rejected claims of any direct or indirect talks on this front.
Trump says in talks with Iran
While Iran has denied reports of talks with US, Trump on Wednesday insisted that Iran was taking part in peace talks, suggesting Tehran's denials were because Iranian negotiators fear being killed by their own side.
“They are negotiating, by the way, and they want to make a deal so badly. But they're afraid to say it,” Trump said, adding that the country is also afraid they will be killed by US.
His comments came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that "we do not intend to negotiate".
Speaking on the West Asia conflict, Trump said: “When I went on to do something that for 47 years should have been done by any of the other Presidents, and you heard numerous of them said they wished they did it, but they didn't have the guts to do it.”
He also said that the aim behind attacks on Iran was to “get rid of the cancer,” which was Iran with a nuclear weapon. "We have cut it out. Now we are going to finish it off," Trump added.
Also read: Sharif's offer, Trump's 15-point peace plan to Iran: How Pak became central to war talks
Who is the current supreme leader of Iran?
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei took over after his father’s assassination at the start of the war. There have been concerns about his health and safety after the leader has not been seen in public since taking over the position.
While he did not appear in person, Mojtaba Khamenei delivered an Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz message on Friday, in a written statement, which was read on state television.
