Trump demands 'unconditional surrender' from Iran as Putin speaks with Iran's president

In March 2026, the White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced that the United States anticipates military strikes on Iran will last approximately four to six weeks. According to Leavitt, the US believes it possesses sufficient ammunition to successfully complete its objectives in Iran. The statement indicates a planned military engagement by the US against Iran, with a projected timeline and assurance of adequate resources. The location of the conflict is specified as within Iran. The specific reasons for the strikes were not detailed in the provided information.

Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh, rejected Donald Trump's desire to influence the selection of Iran's next Supreme Leader in March 2026. Ghalibaf stated that Iran's future would be decided solely by Iranians, not by outside influences, referencing Jeffrey Epstein to criticize Trump's connections. Khatibzadeh questioned Trump's perceived colonial approach, contrasting his desire to topple Iran's democratically elected president with his support for democracy in the US. Trump had expressed a desire to be involved in the appointment of the new Supreme Leader, similar to his role in selecting Venezuela's President Delcy Rodriguez, advocating for a leader who would treat the US and Israel favorably.

In March 2026, Donald Trump stated his desire to be "involved" in choosing Iran's next supreme leader, following the death of Ali Khamenei. Trump voiced opposition to Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, assuming the role. He expressed a preference for a leader similar to Venezuela's Delcy Rodriguez, who has allowed US influence in Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro's removal. Trump believes such a leader would be more amenable to US interests. However, analysts note the significant differences between Iran and Venezuela, including Iran's ongoing conflict with the US and Israel, and the religious qualifications required for the supreme leader position. Iranian officials have denied any negotiations with the US.

President Trump stated on Thursday that the U.S. should be involved in selecting Iran's next Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In an interview with Axios, Trump deemed Khamenei's son "unacceptable" for the role, drawing a comparison to U.S. involvement in Venezuela. He expressed concern that without a favorable leader in Iran, the U.S. would likely return to war within five years. Trump reiterated his desire for U.S. involvement in choosing Iran's future leader in a separate interview with Reuters, emphasizing the need for someone who will bring peace and be beneficial for the Iranian people and country. He believes this involvement is necessary to avoid repeated conflicts.

Ali Larijani, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary, has stated that his country is prepared to confront a possible US invasion, pledging to capture and kill US troops if they enter Iranian territory. Larijani warned that such actions would have dire consequences, referencing Iran's former supreme leaders Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei, who were killed in a joint US-Israeli strike. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed this statement, saying that Iran is not afraid of a possible US invasion and that a ground offensive would be a "big disaster" for US troops. The US has refused to rule out deploying forces inside Iran, with President Donald Trump expressing interest in being involved in the appointment of Iran's next supreme leader. Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated since the latest conflict began on Saturday, with both sides engaging in missile and drone attacks across the Middle East.