President Donald Trump told ABC News that potential Iranian leadership figures previously identified by the United States were killed during Saturday’s joint US-Israeli military strikes.
In an interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, Trump described the operation as devastating to Iran’s leadership structure.
“The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates,” Trump said. “It’s not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead.”
His comments come amid mounting uncertainty over Iran’s political future following reports that longtime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes.
Succession Questions Loom in Tehran
With Khamenei’s reported death, attention has turned to how Iran’s power transition will unfold. Under Iran’s political system, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for appointing a new Supreme Leader, but in times of crisis, internal security forces — particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — may play a decisive role.
Trump suggested that individuals Washington had previously assessed as potential successors were among those killed in the operation.
The president also directly referenced Khamenei’s killing, stating:
“I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well I got him first.”
Reference to 2024 Assassination Plot
Trump’s remarks appear to reference a 2024 Justice Department case involving a foiled plot to assassinate him before the presidential election.
According to court documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Iranian officials allegedly instructed suspect Farhad Shakeri to surveil and ultimately attempt to assassinate Trump. Federal charges were filed in connection with the disrupted plot.
The administration has framed the recent strikes as both preemptive and retaliatory in nature.
Casualty Projections Could Rise
In a separate interview with The New York Times, Trump acknowledged that casualties in the ongoing conflict with Iran could increase beyond the three U.S. service members confirmed killed so far.
“Three is three too many as far as I’m concerned,” Trump said. “If you look at projections… it could be quite a bit higher than that.”
Earlier reporting indicated the three U.S. service members were killed in a suspected drone strike early Sunday in Kuwait.
While official Pentagon projections have not been publicly detailed, Trump suggested that military estimates anticipate further risks as operations continue.
Escalation and Regional Impact
The conflict between the United States and Iran has rapidly intensified, with both sides exchanging missile and drone strikes across multiple locations in the region.
Key concerns now include:
- Leadership stability inside Iran
- Potential IRGC consolidation of power
- Risk of expanded regional conflict
- Rising U.S. casualty counts
- Impact on global energy markets
With Trump signaling that key Iranian leadership figures are no longer viable successors, questions remain about whether Iran will stabilize under a new authority structure or enter a period of internal turbulence.
Strategic Uncertainty Ahead
As the situation evolves, analysts are closely watching:
- Iran’s official confirmation regarding leadership losses
- The Assembly of Experts’ response
- IRGC command movements
- U.S. force posture adjustments in the Gulf
Trump’s assertion that U.S.-identified candidates are “all dead” adds a new layer of uncertainty to an already volatile regional landscape.
The coming days will likely determine whether the conflict escalates further or transitions into a political reshaping inside Tehran.
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