WASHINGTON(National Times)- In his video released on Sunday night, Donald Trump says: “Combat operations continue in full force and will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.” The president continues by saying that “sadly there will likely be more” US casualties, adding: “That’s the way it is.” “America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the enemies who have waged war against basically ‘civilization’,” he continues. Trump adds: “I once again urge the Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain death, it won’t be pretty.”
Urges Iranian people to ‘take back your country’
Continuing with Trump’s newly released video, he says US-Israeli strikes against Iran are “right” and “necessary” to eliminate the enemies, armed with nuclear weapons”. “These intolerable threats will not continue any longer,” Trump says. He then reiterates his calls for regime change, making a direct appeal to the people of Iran. “I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave,” Trump says. “Be bold, be heroic, and take back your country. America is with you.” Earlier, US President Donald Trump said Iran’s new leadership has expressed a willingness to open talks with the United States following recent American military strikes, adding that he has agreed to engage in dialogue. In an interview with The Atlantic from his Florida residence, Trump said, “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.” The US president did not specify whom he would speak to or whether the talks would take place immediately. His remarks came amid heightened tensions following US strikes on Iranian targets, including naval assets. In a social media post earlier, Trump said the Iranian navy was “doing a great job,” claiming that nine Iranian vessels had been sent “to the bottom of the sea.” He added that major Iranian naval ships had been targeted and that Iran’s naval headquarters had been largely destroyed.
Trump claims 48 Iranian leaders killed in strike, says nuclear threat averted
Trump also suggested that several Iranian officials previously involved in negotiations were killed in the recent attacks. “Most of those people are gone. Some of the people we were dealing with are gone, because that was a big hit,” he said in the interview. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that a temporary leadership council — comprising himself, the judiciary chief and a member of the powerful Guardians Council — has assumed the duties of supreme leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The developments signal a potential diplomatic opening even as military tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high.
