US President Donald Trump has outlined what he calls the “worst-case” scenario in Iran — not continued military confrontation, but the possibility that any leadership change could result in someone “as bad as the previous person.”
Speaking about the evolving situation, Trump said the United States has significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities but warned that political outcomes remain uncertain.
“The worst-case, we have very much beaten militarily from the military standpoint,” Trump said. “They are still lobbying some missiles. They will not be able to do that, because we are hitting all over their missile stock.”
He said the US has targeted missile reserves built up over several years and claimed those capabilities are being systematically reduced.
Still, Trump cautioned that military success does not automatically guarantee a better political future for Iran.
“I guess the worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen. We don’t want that to happen.”
Trump said such an outcome would undermine the broader objective.
“It would probably be the worst — you go through this and then in five years you realise you put somebody in, it was no better.”
When asked what kind of leadership might emerge, Trump suggested change should come from within Iran rather than being externally imposed.
“It would seem to me that somebody from within might maybe would be more appropriate, if there’s such a person,” he said. “We have people like that. We have people more moderate.”
He added that some figures previously considered by the administration are no longer viable options.
“Of the candidates we had considered, some are dead,” Trump said. “Pretty soon, we’re not going to know anybody.”
Trump also addressed the Iranian public directly, urging caution amid ongoing military operations.
“We’d like to see somebody in there that’s gonna bring it back for the people, and we’ll see what happens with the people,” he said. “If you’re gonna go out and protest, don’t do it yet. It’s very dangerous out there. A lot of bombs are being dropped.”
Throughout his remarks, Trump framed the conflict as both a military campaign and a political calculation, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is not simply weakening Iran’s capabilities but ensuring that any future leadership is meaningfully different.
“I always say that would be about the worst,” he said, referring to the prospect of replacing one hardline leadership with another indistinguishable successor.
