President Donald Trump stated that sending US ground forces into Iran is currently “a waste of time,” dismissing warnings from Iran’s foreign minister that such an invasion would be disastrous. He emphasized that Iran has already suffered significant losses, including its navy.
Trump also indicated a desire to see Iran’s leadership structure removed quickly, adding that the United States would play a role in selecting the country’s next leader following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He did not name potential successors.
Read more : US House of Representatives rejects limits on Trump’s Iran war …
Heavy attacks continued in Tehran as Israel targeted “regime infrastructure” in what it described as a new phase of its ongoing war with Iran. The conflict has now spread to neighboring Gulf states, Cyprus, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Indian Ocean, where a US submarine reportedly sank an Iranian naval ship.
The US president expressed support for Iranian Kurdish forces in Iraq, encouraging intensified attacks against Iran. These militias, operating along the Iran-Iraq border, have been coordinating with the US to weaken Iranian military capabilities amid US and Israeli airstrikes.
Read more : Trump admin keeps ‘boots on ground’ option open
Despite escalating violence, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clarified that US military objectives in Iran remain unchanged, focusing on missile systems, production facilities, and naval capabilities, while the Pentagon ensures ample munitions for a prolonged campaign.
Casualties continue to mount, with at least 1,230 reported dead in Iran, including 175 schoolchildren, while 77 have died in Lebanon as Hezbollah warns residents near the Israeli border to evacuate. Regional powers brace for further retaliatory actions as the conflict intensifies.