Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty ImagesUS president Donald Trump has demanded a say in picking Iran’s next leader despite scant signs that the regime is losing its grip in the face of a relentless US and Israeli air campaign. The pounding of regime targets across Iran by US and Israeli fighter jets continued apace on day six of the Middle East war as the conflict continued to widen. The attack comes in spite of calls from world leaders including Macron urging Israel not to expand the war into Lebanon. There was growing anger in Lebanon against Hizbullah for dragging the country into the war by firing rockets at Israel on Monday. Even though the US has refrained from listing regime change as an aim of the war, Trump said on Thursday he needs to be personally involved in selecting Iran’s next leader, just as he was in Venezuela.

Source: The Irish Times March 06, 2026 15:03 UTC