Washington DC/IBNS, March 26 -- US President Donald Trump has claimed that people in Iran wanted him to become the country's Supreme Leader-an offer he said he declined.

Speaking at a Republican fundraiser in Washington DC, Trump alleged that Iranian officials are secretly negotiating with the US but are afraid to make it public.

Trump further claimed that Iran's leadership had proposed making him Supreme Leader after the reported death of Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel joint strike on Tehran.

According to reports, Khamenei was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.

Trump pushes diplomacy amid tensions

Trump is also reportedly pursuing renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran to ease regional tensions.

He indicated that the pause would ...