"I must be personally involved in the appointment"! Trump says he will not accept Hassan Rouhani's son as Iran's new leader

According to Xinhua News Agency, Axios reported on the 5th that U.S. President Trump stated on the same day that he “must be personally involved” in selecting Iran’s next leader.

During a phone interview with Axios, Trump said he would not accept the son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Khamenei as the new leader. He stated, “I must be personally involved in the appointment.”

Trump also warned that if Iran produces a new leader who “continues Khamenei’s policies,” it will force the U.S. to “return to war within 5 years.”

According to the Iranian Tasnim News Agency on the 5th, Deputy Foreign Minister Ravanji told U.S. media that after Khamenei was assassinated, Iran established a new three-member body responsible for national affairs until a new Supreme Leader is elected. The election will follow Iran’s constitutional procedures.

Additionally, multiple media outlets including the Islamic Republic News Agency reported on the 4th that Iran has identified several candidates for Supreme Leader and will soon select the new leader.

Since the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, about a week has passed. As of the 5th, data shows that U.S.-Israeli attacks have resulted in 1,230 deaths within Iran. Besides targeting Iranian sites, the conflict has expanded to the Indian Ocean and Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister: This is entirely a matter for the Iranian people

No one has the right to interfere

According to CCTV News, on March 5th, U.S. NBC reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said in an interview in Tehran that as the war launched by the U.S. and Israel rapidly spreads across the region, Iran is prepared to respond to a ground invasion by U.S. forces. He also refused to negotiate with the U.S. and stated that Iran has not requested a ceasefire.

Araghchi refuted President Trump’s statement that “involvement is needed in selecting the next Iranian Supreme Leader.” He emphasized, “This is entirely a matter for the Iranian people; no one has the right to interfere.”

Iran’s Temporary Leadership Council held its fourth meeting: strengthening armed forces and preparing for the Supreme Leader election

On March 5th, Tehran hosted the fourth meeting of Iran’s Temporary Leadership Council, chaired by President Peleshiyan.

The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reported on the latest military developments. The council members, while firmly supporting the armed forces’ participation in the fight, decided to strengthen the armed forces. The meeting also made necessary preparations for forming a leadership expert committee and electing the country’s future leader.

Furthermore, the council members responded to inappropriate remarks by the U.S. President regarding Iran’s future leadership, stating that Iran will resist and persist to make the U.S. and Israel’s enemies yield.

The Temporary Leadership Council was established on March 1st and has held its first, second, and third meetings over the past few days.

About a week since U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran

1,230 Iranians killed in the attacks

According to information from the China Media Group reporter, from the Iranian Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation, by the afternoon of March 5th, 1,230 people in Iran had died in large-scale airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel.

Other domestic sources in Iran also report that as of the afternoon of March 5th, the attacks included:

• 105 civilian sites and facilities targeted by U.S.-Israeli strikes;
• 636 locations across Iran recorded 1,332 attacks;
• 14 medical and pharmaceutical institutions damaged in the strikes.

Iran uses heavy-duty missiles to break through Israeli air defenses

In response to ongoing U.S.-Israeli attacks, Iran’s counterattacks have continued. To date, Iran has launched “True Commitment-4” counterattacks, now in its 21st round. About four hours ago, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that to commemorate the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the “Dina” vessel, they launched the 20th round of “True Commitment-4.”

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released footage of the “True Commitment-4” 20th wave of military operations.

According to a source obtained by the China Media Group on the 5th from an informed Iranian individual, since the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on February 28th, Iran has launched over 500 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as more than 2,000 drones of various types. Approximately 40% of these strikes targeted Israel, and 60% targeted U.S. interests.

The IRGC also announced on the afternoon of the 5th that it used weapons including the “Khoramshahr-4” super-heavy missile carrying a one-ton warhead, successfully breaking through Israel’s seven-layer defense system and hitting targets inside Israel.

The announcement also stated that in the previous 18th round of strikes, Iran effectively hit 20 U.S. military targets located in Bahrain, the UAE, and Kuwait. The statement added that Iran’s armed forces are fighting on multiple fronts, and “the military situation has changed far beyond U.S. and Israeli assessments.”

Iranian warship attacked in international waters; Iran’s military: Will make enemies pay

On March 5th, Iran’s military issued an official statement condemning the “barbaric attack” by U.S. forces on the Iranian Navy’s “Dina” vessel in international waters, vowing to make U.S. and Israeli enemies pay for their crimes.

The statement pointed out that the attack occurred about 2,000 miles off the Iranian coast. At the time, the “Dina” was returning after completing the “Milan 2026” maritime joint exercise with a group of young naval cadets.

Iran’s military emphasized that the U.S. launched a “despicable and inhumane” attack on a vessel engaged in training, far from the conflict zone, without warning. They stated that the attack by U.S. forces in distant waters flagrantly violated international maritime law, humanitarian law, and recognized navigation practices. Iran’s military vowed to respond more decisively than ever, making the aggressors regret their heinous acts.

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(Source: Huaxia Times)