'Cut Off Their Heads': Trump Describes Ideal End to Iran Operation
The president says the goal is to eliminate the gang of murderers and thugs running the regime.
President Donald Trump outlined his vision for the desired outcome of the US operation in Iran, stating that one key goal is to "cut off their heads" from the gang of murderers and thugs running the regime. In an interview with NBC, Trump said when asked about the desired result, "There are many desired outcomes. Number one is to cut off their heads, to get rid of all their gang of murderers and thugs. And there are many more outcomes. We can do the short version or the long version."
Trump acknowledged expected casualties, saying, "We expect casualties in something like this," referencing the three US soldiers killed and five seriously wounded so far. However, he added, "We have three, but we expected casualties and in the end it will be a great deal for the world."
He also updated that the operation is advancing faster than planned and emphasized it is being done "not only for ourselves but for the world."
On Truth Social, Trump announced, "I have just been updated that we destroyed and sank nine ships of the Iranian navy, some of them relatively large and important. We are chasing the rest - they too will soon float at the bottom of the sea! In another attack, we largely destroyed their naval headquarters." He mocked the Iranians, "Besides that, their navy is functioning excellently."
Trump further revealed that the new Iranian leadership has expressed willingness to talk, and he has agreed. "The new leadership in Iran has reached out to me and said they want to talk - and I agreed to talk with them," he told The Atlantic. He refused to disclose when such talks would take place, noting that "most of those involved in the negotiations are dead. They could have made a deal earlier, but they played it too smart."