Trump Says Iran’s Leadership ‘Paralyzed,’ Signals Interest in Shaping Future Leadership

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s leadership is now “paralyzed” and suggested he wants to see new leadership emerge in the country that would maintain friendly relations with the United States and Israel.

In a brief telephone interview, Trump made a series of strong remarks not only about Iran but also about the situation in Cuba and domestic political issues in the United States.

Trump said Iran is no longer as strong as it was just a week ago. “A week ago Iran was much stronger. Now they are essentially incapable,” he said. Speaking about Iran’s potential future leadership, Trump indicated that he would like to be involved in that process.

Referring to developments in Venezuela, Trump claimed that leadership changes there demonstrate that similar shifts could occur elsewhere. He suggested that a comparable transition could take place in Iran.

Interestingly, Trump said he would not necessarily oppose a religious leader taking power in Iran. According to him, the key issue is the character of the leader. “It depends on the person. I work with many religious leaders, and they are wonderful,” he said, adding that his main condition is that the leader must be fair and maintain cooperative relations with the United States and Israel.

Trump also highlighted what he described as strong relations with Middle Eastern allies. He claimed that previous administrations under Barack Obama and Joe Biden had neglected allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, whereas he had restored friendly ties with them.

Turning to Cuba, Trump predicted that the Cuban government could soon collapse and said the country is eager to reach a deal with Washington. He indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be tasked with handling the issue, although he emphasized that Iran remains his top priority at the moment. During remarks at the White House on Thursday, Trump also suggested that Cuban Americans may soon have an opportunity to return to their homeland.

Addressing concerns about rising oil prices amid tensions with Iran, Trump said he is not particularly worried and described the increase as temporary, predicting prices would fall again soon.

He also commented on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, claiming that U.S. forces have severely weakened Iran’s naval capabilities. According to Trump, around 25 large Iranian warships have been destroyed, leaving Iran unable to mount a significant naval response.

Toward the end of the interview, Trump shifted to domestic policy and stressed the need for electoral reforms in the United States. He voiced strong support for the proposed “Save America Act,” calling it the most important issue after the war.

Trump said the legislation should require voter identification cards, proof of citizenship, and limit the use of mail-in ballots. He also reiterated his position against transgender participation in sports and called for restrictions on gender transition surgeries for minors.

Regarding the upcoming Texas Senate race, Trump said his support for Senator John Cornyn or Attorney General Ken Paxton will depend on their backing for the legislation. He also suggested that the Senate’s filibuster rule could be abolished if necessary to ensure the bill’s passage.