Trump Wants Say in Iran Leadership; Israel Escalates War, Evacuates Southern Beirut

In a staggering escalation of war aims, U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the United States must have a direct hand in selecting the next Supreme Leader of Iran. The demand comes as Israel launched its most ferocious bombing campaign yet against the Lebanese capital, ordering the unprecedented evacuation of nearly 800,000 residents from Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Trump’s “Regime Selection” Mandate

In a telephone interview with Reuters, President Trump made his most explicit demand for control over Iran’s internal governance following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the war’s first day.

• The “Lightweight” Successor: Trump dismissed reports that Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was being tapped as the next leader, calling him a “lightweight” and “unacceptable.”

• Comparison to Venezuela: The President likened his planned involvement to U.S. influence in Venezuela, stating, “We’re going to have to choose that person along with Iran… otherwise, they’re not going to have any settlement.”

• The Goal: Trump emphasized the need for a leader who would “bring harmony” and ensure Iran never rebuilds its nuclear or ballistic capabilities.

Lebanon Under Siege: The Fall of Dahiyeh

For the first time in the history of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, the Israeli military ordered the entire southern sector of Beirut to evacuate.

• 26 Waves of Strikes: Overnight, 26 separate waves of Israeli airstrikes flattened entire neighborhoods in the Dahiyeh district, targeting what Israel described as Hezbollah command centers and UAV storage sites.

• Humanitarian Crisis: Hundreds of thousands are now sleeping in downtown streets, parks, and on beaches. Jamal Seifeddin, 43, a displaced resident, told Reuters: “I’ve never slept on the ground like this… No one even brought a blanket.”

• Expanding Front: Hezbollah retaliated with a combined missile and drone operation targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and a naval base in Haifa, warning that the “expulsion campaign” against Lebanese citizens would not go unchallenged.

Existential War: Iran Strikes Back at U.S. Bases

As Israel began a “broad-scale” wave of attacks on infrastructure in Tehran, Iran intensified its retaliatory strikes against U.S. assets in the Gulf.

• Al Udeid Base Targeted: Qatari officials confirmed that Iranian drones attacked the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base—the largest U.S. facility in the Middle East—overnight. While Qatari air defenses intercepted several threats, the IRGC claimed the “21st wave” of Operation True Promise 4 is currently underway.

• Kurdish Ground Front: President Trump also explicitly encouraged Iranian Kurdish forces in Iraq to launch ground attacks into western Iran, a move that would open a new land front in the seven-day-old war.

• The Human Cost: The Iranian Red Crescent reports at least 1,230 deaths in Iran since the conflict began, while the Lebanese Health Ministry has confirmed 123 killed and 683 wounded in Lebanon.

Analysis: A War Without an Exit Strategy

The U.S. administration’s shift from “neutralizing threats” to “choosing leaders” signals that Operation Epic Fury is no longer a limited military strike but a full-scale attempt at regime reconstruction. This stance is likely to harden Iranian resistance and complicate any potential de-escalation efforts by regional mediators like Pakistan and Qatar.

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