US war on Iran intensifies as Trump dismisses hardline successor in Tehran

TEHRAN: The war between the United States and Iran intensified on Thursday as US and Israeli airstrikes continued across Iranian territory, while President Donald Trump rejected the idea of a hardline successor taking power in Tehran.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Trump dismissed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a possible replacement for his father. Mojtaba, widely regarded as a hardliner and a leading candidate for succession, had been seen by some Iranian insiders as the natural heir to the leadership.

Trump said the United States wanted to play a role in shaping Iran’s future leadership to prevent the country from continuing policies hostile to the West.

“We want to be involved in choosing the person who will lead Iran into the future,” Trump said, adding that Washington wanted a leader who would be “great for the people and great for the country.”

His comments came as Israeli forces warned residents in parts of eastern Tehran to evacuate ahead of new strikes. Iranian media reported explosions in several areas of the capital as jets targeted government and military facilities.

Residents described scenes of panic and destruction. “Today is worse than yesterday. They are striking northern Tehran. We have nowhere to go,” said Mohammadreza, a 36-year-old resident who spoke by phone while explosions could be heard nearby.

The conflict, now entering its sixth day, has expanded across the region. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several Gulf states, triggering warning sirens in cities including Tel Aviv, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

In Bahrain, emergency crews extinguished a fire at an oil refinery after it was reportedly hit by a missile. Azerbaijan also accused Iran of launching drones into its territory and temporarily closed its southern airspace.

The war erupted after a joint US-Israeli campaign targeted Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure, including an airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

Casualties continue to rise. Iranian officials say more than 1,200 people have been killed since the start of the conflict, while violence has also spread to Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.

Despite mounting international concern and economic disruption linked to oil and shipping routes in the Gulf, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its campaign, warning that “much work still lies ahead.”

Meanwhile, Iran has vowed retaliation against US forces and allies, raising fears that the conflict could expand into a wider regional war.