Washington, March 9 -- United States President Donald Trump has declined to offer a formal assessment of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei's elevation as Iran's new Supreme Leader, sufficing with the brief remark, "We'll see what happens."

The 56-year-old was designated to the country's highest office by the 88-member Assembly of Experts. The clerical body confirmed he was "appointed and introduced as the third leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the decisive vote of the respected representatives of the Assembly of Experts".

This transition occurs amidst significant regional volatility, following a military campaign that resulted in the death of the former leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a conversation with...