Trump Calls U.S.-Israeli Strikes On Iran A 'Major Success' As Region Braces For Fallout

President Donald Trump on Sunday framed a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation as a decisive success while saying he remains open to renewed diplomacy with Iran's new leadership as the conflict spreads across the Middle East.

The Pentagon has identified the campaign as Operation Epic Fury. According to U.S. accounts, the operation began early Saturday and reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with several senior advisers. The claims come from U.S. sources and have been cited by administration officials in interviews.

Speaking to Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich, Mr. Trump touted the operation's results:

"Nobody can believe the success we're having. Forty-eight leaders are gone in one shot," he said, adding the campaign "is moving along rapidly."

In an interview with The Atlantic, Mr. Trump said many of those killed were involved in stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and suggested that fresh talks with Iran's replacement leadership would begin soon.

"They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them," he told The Atlantic. "They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long."

On his social platform Truth Social, the president claimed additional military successes against the Iranian navy:

"I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters."

U.S. Central Command announced on Sunday that three U.S. service members were killed at an undisclosed location and five others were seriously wounded—the first American combat deaths reported in the current confrontation. In remarks to NBC News, Mr. Trump said, "we expect casualties with something like this," and later described the fallen as "great people, with outstanding records," adding he expects the fighting to last "four weeks, or less."

Political Reaction And Calls For Transparency

The president has not yet addressed the nation directly or briefed Congress following the joint operation, prompting bipartisan calls for more information and oversight. Democratic lawmakers have pressed for a clear strategy and congressional involvement.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said the White House must explain the operation's objectives: "This is not a king. He cannot do this on his own. But it’s absolutely essential right now that he comes and explains what is the goal." Sen. Mark Kelly told NBC's "Meet the Press" he wants to hear the administration's plan going forward. Rep. Adam Schiff criticized the president for not seeking congressional authorization, urging lawmakers to consider a war powers resolution introduced by Sens. Tim Kaine, Rand Paul, Chuck Schumer and others.

The strikes and the president's public comments have intensified partisan scrutiny and raised broader questions about regional escalation, civilian risk, and the path to renewed diplomacy. Independent confirmation of some battlefield claims has not been publicly provided by non-U.S. sources at the time of this report.