Amid ongoing tensions over Iran, US President Donald Trump has signaled a relatively flexible stance on the country’s political future, saying the US would not object to a religious figure leading Iran in the post-war era.
In an interview with CNN on Friday, Trump said it was not a big deal to him whether Iran’s leader would be religious or not. He said it was more about who was in charge and how he ran the country.
Trump said he was not particularly concerned about whether Iran would become a democracy, but that the new leadership would have to be fair and responsible and maintain constructive relations with the United States and Israel.
He also said that Iran’s future leadership must also maintain stable relations with other countries in the Middle East. The US president also mentioned the need to reduce tensions through regional cooperation.
According to analysts, pressure from regional allies, the anti-war stance of European countries, and fears of a potential global energy crisis are some of the reasons for Washington’s softening of its rhetoric. However, the main goal of the United States is believed to be to bring Iran to talks by maintaining military and diplomatic pressure.