President Trump told CBS News that U.S. and Israeli attacks, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been effective and could pave the way for diplomacy. "Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously," Mr. Trump stated, noting that Iran is "getting beat up badly."
He called Saturday's strikes "a great day for this country, a great day for the world." Sources indicate approximately 40 Iranian officials were killed alongside Khamenei.
Mr. Trump expressed confidence in potential successors to lead Iran but did not elaborate. He is closely monitoring Iran's response, which has included ballistic missile launches at Israel and attacks on U.S. allies. While Iran's retaliatory actions have been less than anticipated, Mr. Trump acknowledged the situation remains fluid.
U.S. Central Command reported no U.S. casualties. Israel sustained one fatality and dozens of injuries from the retaliatory strikes.
On Capitol Hill, Republicans have largely supported the president. Some Democratic leaders have called for more details from the administration regarding the scope and immediacy of the threat. Mr. Trump affirmed his desire to work with Congress on Iran-related matters.
He concluded the interview by reiterating the success of the U.S. strikes and stated his focus remains on eliminating threats to the United States.