Post-War Iran: Trump Weighs U.S. Influence as Intelligence Tracks Mojtaba Khamenei

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, that President Donald Trump and his national security team are actively deliberating Washington’s potential role in a post-conflict Iran. While the primary focus remains the ongoing military operation, termed "Operation Epic Fury," discussions regarding Iran's political future are reportedly intensifying. Leavitt emphasized that the U.S. is closely monitoring reports from intelligence agencies indicating that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Supreme Leader, has emerged as a key candidate to take over the regime's leadership.

Defending the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign, Leavitt pushed back against critics questioning the lack of evidence for an "imminent threat." She argued that the decision was based on the "cumulative effect of 47 years of direct threats" from what she called a "rogue terrorist regime." Despite domestic polling showing divided public support—with only one in four Americans favoring the strikes—President Trump remains committed to the operation, rejecting claims that he was pushed into war by Israel. Instead, the administration views the current vacuum in Iranian leadership as an opportunity to permanently degrade Tehran’s regional proxy networks and nuclear ambitions.