U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said American and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have killed individuals Washington viewed as possible successors to Iran’s leadership, as the conflict in the Middle East enters its fifth day.
Trump made the remarks at the White House during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Speaking to reporters, Trump rejected suggestions that Israel pressured the United States into launching strikes. “If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” Trump said.
He stated that some Iranian officials the United States had identified as potential future leaders were killed in the joint bombing campaign.
The latest escalation follows coordinated strikes launched on Saturday by the United States and Israel on targets inside Iran.
The attacks reportedly killed several senior Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Retaliatory strikes
Iran responded with retaliatory strikes across the region, targeting U.S. and Israeli interests.
Trump mentioned, “Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group, they may be dead also, based on reports.”
Asked about the risk of regime change producing similar leadership, Trump responded: “The worst case would be we do this, and somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person. We don’t want that to happen.”
Trump also claimed that the strikes were pre-emptive. “We were having negotiations… and it was my opinion that they were going to attack,” he said, referring to Iranian leadership.
However, U.S. officials familiar with intelligence assessments have previously indicated that the immediacy of any direct Iranian threat to the United States was subject to internal debate.
Since Saturday, more than 800 people have been reported killed across multiple countries in the expanding conflict.
Global Market Reaction
Financial markets have reacted sharply to the widening war.
Global stock markets decline on Tuesday, while oil prices surge amid concerns over supply disruptions.
Brent crude rises as investors weigh the risk of instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route.
At the White House, Trump says oil prices will likely fall once fighting ends. Chancellor Merz noted that elevated oil prices are damaging the global economy and underscore the need for de-escalation.
Background
The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant portion of the world’s oil exports, making any threat to shipping in the region a considerable concern for energy markets.
The United States and Israel maintained that the strikes are aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities.
Tehran accuses both countries of aggression and warns of further retaliation.
The conflict continues to affect global energy markets, financial stability and diplomatic relations, with international calls growing for a ceasefire to prevent further escalation.
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