NYP: Trump rules out immediate troop deployment in Iran

President Donald Trump told New York Post that the United States is “nowhere near” ordering troops into Iran to secure nuclear material at the underground enrichment facility in Isfahan, as speculation grows about how Washington plans to respond to the country’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

“We haven’t made any decision on that. We’re nowhere near it,” Trump said regarding reported discussions of a potential US deployment to the facility near the ancient Persian capital.

Trump also expressed displeasure with Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, who over the weekend replaced his father, Ali Khamenei, as the head of Iran’s theocratic government, but did not repeat his prior threat to target any successor who assumed power without US approval. “Not going to tell you. Not going to tell you. I’m not happy with him,” Trump said when asked about his plans regarding the younger Khamenei.

Speaking by phone from his Trump National Golf Club in Doral, Florida, Trump sought to tamp down speculation about a US ground mission at Isfahan, after saying on Air Force One on March 7 that “we haven’t talked about” the possibility.

Trump’s cautious remarks followed earlier, more pointed statements in the lead-up to his election. Shortly before the late ayatollah’s hardline son was named his successor, Trump told reporters that the new leader “is not going to last long” if “he doesn’t get approval from us.” Last week, he described Khamenei’s son as “a lightweight” and insisted, “I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodriguez] in Venezuela.”

By Vafa Guliyeva