Trump declines to comment on Mojtaba Khamenei appointment; Lindsey Graham criticises move

US President Donald Trump has declined to comment on Iran’s reported appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, saying only “we’ll see what happens” when asked about the development in an interview, according to The Times of Israel.

Trump also indicated that any decision regarding ending the conflict with Iran would be taken jointly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I think it’s mutual… a little bit. We’ve been talking. I’ll make a decision at the right time, but everything will be taken into account,” the Israeli news outlet quoted Trump as saying.

During the interview, Trump also urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant a pardon to Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption charges.

Referring to the Israeli prime minister by his nickname “Bibi,” Trump said Netanyahu should be pardoned immediately so he could focus on the war rather than the ongoing legal case. He criticised Herzog for not granting the pardon.

Separately, US Senator Lindsey Graham criticised Iran’s decision to choose Mojtaba Khamenei as successor to his slain father, Ali Khamenei, saying the move does not represent the change the United States wants to see, reports Al Jazeera .

Posting on the social platform X, the Republican senator from South Carolina said he believes it is only a matter of time before Mojtaba meets the same fate as his father.

Graham has consistently advocated for stronger military action against Iran. A recent report by The Wall Street Journal said he had advised Netanyahu on how to persuade Trump to take action against Tehran.