WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Wednesday described the United States’ performance in the war with Iran as “15 out of 10,” saying Iranian leadership as being eliminated swiftly and pledging to continue the campaign.
His remarks came as the conflict entered its fifth day and expanded across the region. A US submarine reportedly sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, while fresh explosions were reported in multiple parts of the Middle East, underscoring the widening scope of the confrontation.
“We’re in a very strong position now, and their leadership is just rapidly going. Everybody that seems to want to be a leader, they end up dead,” Trump told a gathering of tech bosses at the White House.
Trump said Tehran’s ballistic missile arsenal was being “wiped out rapidly” by the joint US–Israeli campaign, claiming that the sustained strikes were significantly degrading Iran’s ability to project force.
The president also reiterated his justification for the offensive, asserting that Iran was on a path toward developing a nuclear weapon and that preventing such an outcome was a key objective of the military action.
He pledged that he would “continue forward” with the joint air campaign alongside Israel, stressing that military operations would persist as long as necessary to achieve strategic objectives in Iran.
Trump’s administration has faced criticism over mixed messaging in recent days about the rationale for the conflict, particularly given his previous campaign promises that the United States would start “no new wars.”
Paying in blood
He has not yet outlined a clear plan for what will happen after the conflict ends or whether the United States would pursue a wholesale change in Iran’s leadership or work with remnants for a diplomatic settlement.
Trump has pursued a strategy of engaging with foreign governments after military operations, as seen in Venezuela following the US removal of Nicolás Maduro in January and efforts to secure Venezuelan oil.
The White House said Wednesday that Iran’s leadership and military capabilities were being “absolutely crushed” and that Tehran was “paying in blood,” but officials stopped short of confirming whether Trump is seeking to force a change in Iran’s government.
However, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “actively considering” a potential US role in Iran once the current US-Israel military campaign concludes, noting that the president is discussing post-conflict options with his advisors and national security team.
Leavitt also dismissed reports that Trump had agreed to arm Kurdish separatist inside Iran, calling them “false,” while confirming that the president had spoken with Kurdish leaders.
