Operation Epic Fury: Trump Demands Say in New Iranian Leadership as Gas Prices Soar (Video)

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran reached a volatile new plateau on Thursday, March 5, 2026. As “Operation Epic Fury” entered its sixth day, the focus shifted from the destruction of military infrastructure to a high-stakes battle over the political soul of a post-Khamenei Iran. In an exclusive interview with Axios, President Donald Trump declared that he expects a “seat at the table” in selecting Iran’s next leader, even as the domestic American economy begins to reel from the highest gas price surge of his second term.

Trump’s “Venezuela Model” for Iranian Leadership

In an eight-minute phone interview with Axios on Thursday morning, President Trump disrupted the standard Pentagon narrative of “targeted strikes” by explicitly calling for influence over the Iranian succession process. Following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening waves of the war, the President dismissed the internal process of the 88-seat Assembly of Experts as illegitimate.

“They are wasting their time,” Trump told Axios. “Khamenei’s son [Mojtaba Khamenei] is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy [Rodríguez] in Venezuela.”

Trump’s reference to Venezuela—where the U.S. supported a transition following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026—suggests a pivot toward active regime management. He argued that allowing the current clerical establishment to appoint a “radical” would force the United States back into a war “in five years.” Instead, he advocated for a leader who would bring “harmony and peace,” while noting that many original candidates favored by the U.S. have already been “neutralized” in the ongoing strikes.

The Succession Crisis: Who Follows Khamenei?

Inside Tehran, the clerical establishment is reportedly paralyzed. While Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late leader and a favorite of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is the frontrunner, his candidacy is being fiercely contested.

• Mojtaba Khamenei: A hardliner with deep IRGC ties. Israeli Defense Minister Gideon Saar has already warned that if Mojtaba is appointed, he will be a primary target for assassination.
• Hassan Khomeini: The grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder. Though popular with some reformists, he has been largely sidelined by the hardline Guardian Council.
• Interim Council: Under Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, an Interim Leadership Council—including figures like Alireza Arafi and Ali Larijani—is currently managing affairs while the Assembly of Experts deliberates under heavy fire.

Hegseth: “We Have Only Just Begun to Fight”

While the President focused on the political future, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Admiral Brad Cooper provided a stark military update from CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa. Hegseth addressed concerns about American endurance, stating that the U.S. is “accelerating, not decelerating” its operations.

“Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need to,” Hegseth said. “We have only just begun to fight and fight decisively.”

Admiral Cooper confirmed that U.S. and Israeli forces have “totally demolished” Iranian air defenses and roughly 64% of their missile launchers. In the last 24 hours, U.S. B-2 bombers dropped dozens of 2,000-pound “penetrator” bombs on deeply buried ballistic missile facilities. Hegseth emphasized that the goal is now to “raze and level” Iran’s entire missile industrial base so they can never rebuild.

The Economic Vulnerability: “If They Rise, They Rise”

Despite the military success, the war is creating a significant domestic problem for Trump: Gasoline Prices.

The national average for gas has jumped 27 cents in one week to $3.25 per gallon, according to AAA, with crude oil prices up 16% since Saturday. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent global markets into a tailspin, with the Dow Jones falling 785 points on Thursday to close under 48,000.

President Trump appeared remarkably unconcerned during an interview with Reuters. “I don’t have any concern about it,” he said regarding the pump prices. “They’ll drop very rapidly when this is over, and if they rise, they rise, but this is far more important.” This “if they rise, they rise” stance marks a sharp shift from his State of the Union address last month, where he celebrated low energy costs. White House aides are reportedly scrambling to develop a “short-term relief package” to prevent the price surge from damaging Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.

Regional Escalation: Israel and the UAE

The war has fundamentally altered the strategic posture of America’s regional allies:

• Israel: The IDF is conducting its “12th wave” of strikes, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog stating there was “no choice” but to act against Iran’s rush toward 90% enriched uranium.
• UAE and Gulf States: The UAE has faced the brunt of Iranian retaliatory fire. On Thursday, reports surfaced that debris from intercepted Iranian drones fell near Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. The Jerusalem Post reports that the shared threat is pushing the UAE and Saudi Arabia into an unprecedented, albeit ad-hoc, strategic alignment with Israel.

Sources and Overlooked References

1. Axios: Exclusive: Trump says he wants “a say” in Iran’s next leader
2. CBS News: Live Updates: Trump calls Khamenei’s son “unacceptable” on Day 6 of War
3. Reuters: Trump on rising gas prices: “If they rise, they rise”
4. Defense One: Hegseth: U.S. Firepower about to “surge dramatically” over Iran
5. The Jerusalem Post: Iran pushing Gulf states toward US-Israel military alignment
6. War.gov: Hegseth update on Operation Epic Fury: No shortage of munitions
7. Wikipedia: 2026 Iranian Supreme Leader election and Interim Council details
8. The Guardian: Mojtaba Khamenei: The hardliner tipped to lead Iran through its darkest hour