US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that 48 Iranian leaders had been killed in ongoing joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, calling the operation highly successful and advancing more quickly than expected.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “Nobody can believe the success we are having. 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it is moving along rapidly.” In a separate interview with CNBC, he described the military campaign as “ahead of schedule” and progressing very well.
In another interaction, Trump said Iran’s new leadership had reached out to Washington for talks and that he had agreed to engage in discussions. He added that Tehran should have pursued a deal earlier instead of delaying.
The escalation follows US-Israeli strikes that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a major turning point for the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. In response, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, targeting countries hosting American forces and bases.
Earlier, Trump said the strikes were aimed at confronting what he described as one of the most violent regimes in history, adding that the US was acting not only for itself but for the broader global community. He has been monitoring the situation from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
Meanwhile, US Central Command said three American service members were killed and five seriously injured in the latest operations against Iran. It stated that major combat operations are ongoing and response efforts continue.
