- US President Trump said he knows who can lead Iran after Khamenei's death but did not reveal the name
- Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israel strikes, with multiple Iranian leaders also reported dead
- Asked if there's someone he would like to see lead, he said, "Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates"
US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he knows "exactly who" can lead Iran following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US and Israeli strikes.
Asked by CBS News who he thinks is taking decisions after Khamenei's death, Trump responded, "I know exactly who, but I can't tell you."
He was also asked whether there was someone in Iran he would like to see lead the country, to which he said, "Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates."
He was also asked about who will replace Khamenei.
"I don't know, but at some point they'll be calling me to ask who I'd like," he said.
"I'm only being a little sarcastic when I say that," he added.
Khamenei, who ruled Iran since 1989, was never publicly recorded as having named a successor.
Trump also said it was now "much easier" to hold talks with Iran.
Khamenei Killed In US, Israel Strikes
Ali Khamenei, 86, was killed on Saturday, Iran's state media confirmed, after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iranian targets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Khamenei's compound in Tehran had been destroyed.
Iranian media had said Khamenei's daughter, grandchild, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law were also killed.
The Israeli army said that Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Khamenei, and the head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, were also killed in the strikes.
Israel's military said about 200 fighter jets had completed the largest flying mission in its history, hitting 500 targets throughout Iran.
Iran called the strikes unprovoked and illegal and fired missiles at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases.
Donald Trump On Khamenei's Death
Donald Trump called Ali Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history".
"This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS," he posted on Truth Social.
"There was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do," he said.
Trump said this is the "single greatest chance" for the Iranian people to "take back" their country.
He said the "heavy and pinpoint bombing" will continue "uninterrupted" throughout the week. "Or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD," he said.
In a video message on social media shortly after the strikes, Trump HAD said the aim of the military campaign, which the US named Operation Epic Fury, was "eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime".
