WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s leadership has been “neutered” following recent military strikes and suggested that the United States could help shape the country’s next leadership, even if the future government is not democratic.
In a phone interview with CNN on Friday, March 6, 2026, Trump said the situation in Iran had changed dramatically in recent days.
“Iran is not the same country it was a week ago. A week ago they were powerful, and now they’ve been indeed neutered,” Trump said.
The president expressed confidence that replacing Iran’s leadership would be straightforward, comparing the situation to events in Venezuela earlier this year, when the United States captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his deputy assumed power.
“It’s gonna work very easily. It’s going to work like did in Venezuela. We have a wonderful leader there. She’s doing a fantastic job. And it’s going to work Iike in Venezuela,” Trump said, referring to acting president Delcy Rodriguez.
Comments on Possible Future Leadership
Trump said he was open to a religious leader taking power in Iran if that person maintained cooperative relations with the United States and its allies.
“Well I may be yeah, I mean, it depends on who the person is. I don’t mind religious leaders. I deal with a lot of religious leaders and they are fantastic,” he said.
Pressed on whether the United States would insist on a democratic system in Iran, Trump said the key requirement would be leadership that works constructively with Washington and its partners.
“No, I’m saying there has to be a leader that’s going be fair and just. Do a great job. Treat the United States and Israel well, and treat the other countries in the Middle East — they’re all our partners,” he said.
Trump also described the recent military operation against Iran as highly successful.
“It’s a 12, maybe 15 on the scale of 10,” he said.
He dismissed concerns about rising fuel prices resulting from the conflict.
“That’s all right. It’ll be short term time. It’ll go way down very quickly,” he said.
Trump also said U.S. forces had significantly weakened Iran’s naval capacity.
“We’ve knocked their Navy because, you know, when you knock out the Navy, they can’t do what they wanted to be able to do. The Navy is almost, we just hit about the 25 mark. Can you imagine that? Big ones — 25 ships are down,” he said.
Remarks on Relations in the Middle East
Trump said he had developed strong relationships with several governments in the Middle East and credited those ties with strengthening cooperation during the conflict.
“And I became very friendly with all those countries. That’s why they’re all fighting for us,” he said.
“Before I got involved, we didn’t even speak to UAE and Saudi Arabia. You know, (President Joe) Biden shut out. Biden and (President Barack) Obama shut Saudi Arabia, UAE Qatar, he shut them all out. They were all going to go to China, and I got involved in very short period of time that became my friends.”
Trump Predicts Change in Cuba
During the same interview, Trump said Cuba could soon experience political change.
“Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon, by the way, unrelated, but Cuba is gonna fall too. They want to make a deal so badly,” he said.
He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be involved in negotiations.
“They want to make a deal, and so I’m going to put Marco over there and we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said, adding that the administration’s immediate focus remains the conflict with Iran.
The president also made similar remarks a day earlier at the White House, suggesting that American Cubans might soon be able to return to the island.
“He’s doing some job, and your next one is going to be, we want to do that special Cuba,” Trump said, referring to Rubio.
Push for Voter Identification Legislation
Trump also said that once the conflict with Iran concludes, his administration will prioritise passing voter identification legislation.
He said the proposal could influence his endorsement in the upcoming Texas Senate race between Senator John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“I’m making a decision fairly shortly, but I want and then I feel very strongly that we have to have the full and complete SAVE America Act, OK? I want the SAVE America Act. It is more important than everything else we’re working on other than the war,” Trump said.
Trump said he wanted assurances that candidates he endorses would support the legislation.
“I’ve got to have the assurance of — you have a big story here come to think of it, but I’m just telling you — uh, I like John Cornyn, get along with him well. Get along with both of them very well. But we have go in with the SAVE America Act,” he said.
Trump said the measure should include several requirements, including voter identification, proof of citizenship for voter registration and restrictions on mail-in ballots.
“We have to have voter ID. We have to have proof of citizenship. We have to have no mail-in ballots except the military, illness, disability and travel,” he said.
He also repeated his call for the Senate to eliminate the filibuster in order to pass the legislation.
“The Senate has to act on it. The House on it. And I don’t want the watered down one — that doesn’t mean anything. I want the one that just told you, five things,” Trump said.
Cornyn has said he supports the bill but has indicated that there are not enough Republican votes to change Senate rules to pass it. Paxton has said he would consider dropping out of the race if Senate leaders agree to eliminate the filibuster and approve the legislation.
