President Trump said Thursday that he must be personally involved in the process of selecting a new leader in Iran, according to an interview published by Axios.

In the interview, Trump indicated that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Iran's current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is most likely to succeed his father in the leadership role.

However, Trump stated that such a selection would be "unacceptable" to him, suggesting he expects to have input in Iran's internal succession process.

The comments come as Iran's aging Supreme Leader, who has held power since 1989, faces questions about succession planning. Mojtaba Khamenei, who is in his mid-50s, has been widely speculated as a potential successor, though Iran's Assembly of Experts formally selects the Supreme Leader.

Trump's remarks represent an unusual assertion of desired involvement in another nation's internal leadership selection process. Iran's government structure places the Supreme Leader as the country's highest authority, with powers over military, judicial, and political matters.