Trump: Will not accept Khamenei’s son as Iran’s new leader, “I must personally participate in the appointment”, Iranian Foreign Minister: This is entirely a matter of the Iranian people, no one has the right to interfere

# NBD (National Business Daily)

The large‑scale U.S.‑Israeli military campaign against Iran has been ongoing for roughly one week. Within Iran, 1,230 people have been killed, and over 1,300 strikes have been recorded across 636 locations.

U.S. President Donald Trump has openly declared he will “personally participate” in selecting Iran’s new leader, a claim met with fierce rejection from Tehran.

The conflict has far exceeded initial expectations: the U.S. military’s timeline for operations in Iran has been abruptly extended from “four weeks” to “at least 100 days,” with daily costs nearing $1 billion.

According to Xinhua News Agency, citing Axios on March 5, U.S. President Trump stated that day he “must personally be involved” in choosing Iran’s next leader.

In a phone interview with the outlet, Trump said he would not accept the son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as the country’s new leader. “I must personally be involved in the appointment,” he said.

Trump also warned that if Iran produces a new leader who “continues Khamenei’s policies,” it would force the U.S. to “return to war within five years.”

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Bagher Larijani, in an interview with U.S. media on March 5 (Tasnim News Agency), said that following the assassination of Khamenei, Iran has established a three‑person body to run state affairs until a new Supreme Leader is elected, in accordance with Iran’s constitutional procedures.

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency and other outlets reported March 4 that Iran has identified several candidates for Supreme Leader and will soon select one.

On March 5 local time, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir‑Abdollahian told NBC in an exclusive interview in Tehran that as the U.S.‑Israeli war rapidly spreads across the region, Iran is fully prepared for a U.S. ground invasion. He also ruled out any negotiations with the U.S. and said Iran has not called for a cease‑fire.

Amir‑Abdollahian rejected Trump’s claim that he needs to pick Iran’s next Supreme Leader. “This is entirely a matter for the Iranian people,” he stressed. “No one has the right to interfere.”

## Iran’s military vows fiercer retaliation against U.S. and Israel

On March 5 local time, Brigadier General Abdollahian, commander of Iran’s Armed Forces Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a statement offering a tough response to recent U.S.‑Israeli strikes on Iran.

Abdollahian accused the U.S. and Israel of launching new aggression to cover up earlier failures, and condemned their military operations for killing Iran’s Supreme Leader and causing civilian casualties, including women and children. He said Iran’s armed forces have already inflicted heavy losses on the U.S. and Israel, and such retaliation will not only continue but intensify.

On the same day, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, wrote on social media that Iran is ready to counter U.S. ground operations.

CMA reporters learned from Israel’s Ministry of Finance that the Israel‑Iran conflict could cost the Israeli economy more than $2.9 billion per week.

According to Xinhua, six U.S. service members have died in the operations, per U.S. figures.

The Atlantic reported March 4, citing a U.S. congressional official, that the Pentagon’s preliminary estimate puts the daily cost of the U.S. military campaign at nearly $1 billion.

**Image source: CCTV News**

New satellite imagery shows a U.S.-made THAAD missile defense radar deployed at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base was hit and likely destroyed in the early stages of the U.S.‑Israeli strikes on Iran.

The radar is a critical component of the THAAD anti‑missile system, used to detect incoming ballistic missiles and drones. Satellite images show extensive wreckage and burn marks around the radar equipment. According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s 2025 budget documents, such radar systems cost nearly $500 million.

Reports indicate facilities housing similar radar systems in the UAE and Saudi Arabia may also have been attacked, though it remains unclear if the equipment was damaged. Additionally, radar facilities at bases in Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait have been targeted, with multiple satellite communications sites also struck in Kuwait.

## One week of U.S.‑Israeli strikes: 1,230 dead in Iran

As of the afternoon of March 5 local time, 1,230 people have been killed in large‑scale U.S.‑Israeli airstrikes inside Iran, according to CMA reporters citing Iran’s Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation.

Multiple domestic Iranian sources also report, as of March 5 afternoon:

- 105 civilian sites and facilities in Iran have been hit by U.S.‑Israeli strikes;

- 1,332 attacks have been recorded across 636 locations nationwide;

- 14 medical and pharmaceutical facilities have been damaged in the strikes.

From on‑the‑ground observations in Iran, Tehran remains the most heavily targeted city. In northern, western, and northeastern Tehran, early March 5 reports said three U.S. F‑15E fighter jets crashed over Kuwait in an apparent “friendly fire” incident during operations. On March 1, Iran claimed to have struck the USS *Lincoln* aircraft carrier with four missiles; the U.S. later denied the carrier was hit.

## U.S. forced to extend Iran campaign; allies refuse to be dragged in

The new round of conflict in the Middle East has lasted roughly one week, spreading from Iran to multiple Gulf states. The U.S. timeline for military action against Iran has been repeatedly extended during this period.

At the start, Trump announced March 1 the operation would take “about four weeks or less.” By March 4, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said it could last “eight weeks or longer.” On March 5, reports emerged that U.S. estimates for the campaign’s duration have been pushed to “at least 100 days, possibly through September”.

△ Politico revealed: U.S. Central Command is asking the Pentagon to support military operations against Iran for at least 100 days.

A notification document states: “U.S. Central Command is urging the Pentagon to send additional military intelligence personnel to its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, to support U.S. military operations in Iran for at least 100 days, possibly through September.”

Analysts say this marks the first time Central Command has requested more intelligence personnel since the large‑scale U.S.‑Israeli campaign began Feb. 28, indicating the conflict could last far longer than Trump initially anticipated and highlighting the Trump administration’s failure to fully anticipate the war’s ripple effects.

In addition, the U.S. has recently asked several allies to allow U.S. forces to use their military bases to strike Iran. However, multiple European countries, led by Spain, have explicitly rejected the request.

Trump has since threatened to “cut off trade” with Spain, prompting solidarity from the EU and numerous European leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron and other European leaders, as well as the EU, have expressed support for Spain. Senior EU officials have emphasized they will ensure member states’ interests are fully protected. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell sharply criticized the U.S. in a March 5 statement, saying the current chaos in the Middle East is a direct result of international law being violated, and shifts in U.S. foreign policy have shaken the foundations of the transatlantic relationship.

In his latest remarks March 5, Trump continued to criticize Spain for refusing to cooperate militarily, calling the European country a “loser” and “very hostile to NATO.” He also expressed disappointment in British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the UK’s non‑participation in U.S.‑Israeli strikes.

To date, European nations including Spain, Portugal, France, the UK, and Germany still refuse to let U.S. forces use their domestic bases for offensive strikes against Iran. Most, however, support providing defensive military aid to Gulf states.

## Conflict spreads across Middle East

### Iraq

Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency, citing an Iranian military statement, said Iran launched three missiles targeting multiple bases of Kurdish armed groups in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

Aziz Ahmed, deputy chief of staff for the prime minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), said no Iraqi Kurds have crossed the border, calling U.S. media reports “clearly false.” Earlier, Fox News reported Iraqi Kurds had launched ground incursions inside Iran.

### Lebanon

Israeli military spokesman Efi DeFlin said March 5 that the IDF has struck more than 320 targets in Lebanon this week (March 2–5), including 80 in the past 24 hours.

On the afternoon of March 5, the IDF issued evacuation warnings for southern Beirut and began shelling the area. That evening, it launched a new round of airstrikes on southern Beirut.

According to Lebanon’s Public Health Ministry Emergency Operations Center, as of late March 5, Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 123 people and wounded 638.

### Qatar

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said the country was targeted by multiple attacks from Iran, including 14 ballistic missiles and four drones. Qatar’s Interior Ministry issued a nationwide security alert.

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**Source: National Business Daily**

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