US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States is preparing a “third wave” of military strikes against Iran, following two earlier rounds of joint US-Israeli attacks that he claimed had significantly weakened Iran’s leadership and military infrastructure.
Speaking ahead of a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office, Trump said that “everything’s been knocked out” in Iran.
“As you know, 49 people were taken out in the first hit. And I guess there was another hit today on the new leadership, and it looks like that was pretty substantial also. So they’re getting hit very hard, and we’ll see what happens,” he said, adding, “I guess you have a third wave coming.”
Trump stated that the initial phases of what he referred to as Operation Epic Fury resulted in the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He further claimed that figures viewed as potential successors were also targeted in subsequent strikes, including what he described as a substantial attack on a meeting convened to choose new leadership.
“Most of the people we had in mind are dead. Now we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports,” he said.
The US President also asserted that Iran’s navy, air force, air detection systems and radar infrastructure had been neutralized. “They have no navy. It’s been knocked out. They have no air force; that’s been knocked out. They have no air detection; that’s been knocked out. Their radar has been knocked out, and just about everything’s been knocked out,” he told reporters.
According to Trump, the primary objective of the joint US-Israeli campaign is to dismantle Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities and bring about regime change.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Iran has retaliated by targeting US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, as well as the US Embassy in Riyadh. Hezbollah is also reported to have launched strikes against Israel following the reported killing of Khamenei.
The Trump administration has offered differing explanations for the escalation. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the US acted after learning of Israel’s intent to strike, Trump said he moved preemptively. “Based on the way the negotiation was going, I think they were going to attack first. And I didn’t want that to happen. So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” he said.
The situation remains fluid as global attention focuses on the possibility of further escalation. [KNT]
