Iran’s future will be determined by Iranians, not Trump, officials say

Ghalibaf says Iran’s fate will not be decided by ‘Epstein’s gang’ as Trump pushes for role in choosing supreme leader.

Iranian officials have rejected Donald Trump’s push to be involved in the selection of the country’s next leader, insisting that only Iranians can decide the future of their country.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appeared to ridicule on Friday the US president’s assertion that he wants to have a say in appointing the successor of assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“The fate of dear Iran, which is more precious than life, will be determined solely by the proud Iranian nation, not by [Jeffrey] Epstein’s gang,” Ghalibaf wrote on X, referring to the late sex offender who had ties to rich and powerful figures in the US.

Earlier on Friday, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh noted that under the US federal system, Trump has no say over the mayoral elections in New York.

“Can you imagine this colonial approach – that he would like to see democracy at home, but he would like to topple down the democratically elected president of Iran?” Khatibzadeh said at the Raisina Dialogue conference in New Delhi.