WASHINGTON — President Trump told The Post on Monday that he’s “nowhere near” ordering US troops into Iran to safeguard nuclear material at Isfahan — as he kept his cards close on how he plans to handle the country’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
“We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it,” Trump said of reported discussions about a US deployment to Iran’s underground enrichment facility near the ancient Persian capital.
Trump also said he is “not happy with” Khamenei, 56, replacing his father Ali Khamenei as leader of the theocracy over the weekend, but didn’t repeat his earlier threat to kill any successor who assumed power without his input.
“Not going to tell you,” Trump said about his plans for the younger Khamenei. “Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him.”
Trump, who spoke by phone from his Trump National Golf Club in Doral, Fla., tamped down speculation about possible ground troops at Isfahan after telling reporters on Air Force One Saturday afternoon that “we haven’t talked about” the possibility.
But news outlets including Semafor, NBC News and Axios reported the same day that the scenario was under active discussion.
Trump’s coy response on Mojtaba Khamenei, meanwhile, followed overt threats ahead of his election.
Shortly before the late ayatollah’s hardline son was named as his replacement, Trump on Sunday told ABC News that the new leader is “not going to last long” if “he doesn’t get approval from us.”
Trump told Axios last week that “Khamenei’s son is a lightweight” and “I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.”
