President Donald Trump stated that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran are going "very well," describing Iran as "essentially incapacitated" and claiming that "a lot" of Iranian leadership has been killed in the attacks. Trump told ABC News by phone that the operation could last "as long as we wanted to," citing significant damage already inflicted. He also indicated that the U.S. has identified potential next leadership for Iran following the strikes. Trump had earlier announced "major combat operations" against Iran, with joint U.S.-Israel daytime strikes carried out on Saturday.
# Summary
The United States and Israel have launched large-scale military strikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dozens of senior military and government officials — including Revolutionary Guards commander Gen. Mohammad Pakpour and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh — along with at least 133 civilians, according to human rights monitors. President Trump stated that 48 Iranian leaders have been killed and that operations are "ahead of schedule," while warning of even greater force if Iran retaliates. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and several Gulf states, including Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and Iranian state media reported threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. A temporary Iranian leadership council comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and senior cleric Alireza Arafi has been formed to govern during the transitional period.
Three U.S. service members were killed and five were seriously wounded in "Operation Epic Fury," a joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran announced by the military on March 1. North Carolina political leaders, including Governor Josh Stein, Senator Ted Budd, Senator Thom Tillis, and U.S. Senate candidates Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley, issued statements offering condolences and prayers for the fallen troops and their families. While most leaders expressed support or mourning, former Governor Cooper also called on the government to clarify the long-term objectives, risks, and exit strategy of the conflict. Senator Tillis expressed support for President Trump's decision, citing Iran's history of sponsoring terrorism and its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz stated Sunday on "Face the Nation" that there was "no indication" Iran was close to obtaining nuclear weapons following U.S. and Israeli military strikes, citing the devastating impact of the bombings on Iran's nuclear facilities. Cruz acknowledged he lacked current intelligence on Iran's post-strike nuclear rebuilding efforts, but maintained that a year ago Iran had an "active and ongoing nuclear weapons program" that was largely dismantled. He described Trump's decision to strike Iran as "the single most important decision of his presidency," citing Iran's role as the leading state sponsor of terrorism and the failure of diplomatic efforts, during which Iran refused to halt uranium enrichment.
Three U.S. service members were killed and five seriously wounded in Iranian counterattacks following U.S. and Israeli air strikes that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to U.S. Central Command. Iran established a ruling council to select a new supreme leader and stated its military capability remained intact, while no signs of public uprising emerged in Tehran, where security forces patrolled mostly empty streets. The Trump administration expressed hope that Iranians would rise up and choose new leadership, but critics including Democratic senators questioned whether a clear strategic plan existed. Internationally, the attack drew condemnation and sparked violent protests at the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, where ten people were killed in clashes with security forces.
Based on the article, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has died, triggering widespread celebrations both inside Iran and among the diaspora, with residents in multiple Iranian cities filming themselves dancing and honking in the streets. Iranian state television confirmed the news in the early hours of Sunday, declaring 40 days of national mourning and a week-long public holiday. The Assembly of Experts is expected to convene to determine a successor, though wartime conditions complicate the process. Reactions ranged from joy and disbelief to grief over lives lost under the Islamic Republic, with exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi declaring the regime's end was near.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) posted a pointed criticism on X following President Trump's announcement that the U.S. had joined Israel in striking Tehran, suggesting the military action was an attempt to distract from the unreleased Epstein files. Massie, a consistent Trump critic, wrote that "bombing a country on the other side of the globe won't make the Epstein files go away." The Kentucky congressman has previously co-authored legislation to force disclosure of the Epstein files and claimed in February that redactions in the documents are protecting the identities of at least six men who may be implicated. Massie also suggested that more Republican defections from the Trump administration are likely after primary season concludes, citing private agreement from colleagues and a growing "retirement caucus."
On Steve Bannon's War Room program, guest Curt Mills of The American Conservative sharply criticized President Trump's joint strikes with Israel against Iran, calling it "an open betrayal of the base" given Trump's repeated campaign promises to end rather than start wars. Mills expressed uncertainty about American public appetite for casualties and suggested Israel may seek to escalate the conflict to maintain U.S. involvement. The strikes drew broader criticism from within MAGA circles, including from Fox News host Tucker Carlson, congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, and former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene. Trump has defended the strikes as necessary for national security and vowed to continue the campaign "as long as necessary."
President Trump vowed in a Sunday video to continue U.S. military strikes against Iran until "all objectives are achieved," acknowledging that more American troops will "likely" die in the process, following the deaths of three U.S. service members in Iranian retaliatory strikes. The attacks, launched alongside Israel, killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and multiple senior Iranian officials, prompting Iran to strike targets across the region, including Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others. Despite indicating openness to diplomacy with Iran's newly formed interim leadership council, Trump's formal address made no mention of negotiations, instead calling for regime change and offering amnesty to Iranian military and police who lay down their arms. At least 201 people have been killed in Iran and casualties have been reported across several countries since the escalation began.
The United States, in coordination with Israel, launched a major air assault on Iran that reportedly killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, marking what the article describes as one of the most consequential military gambits of Trump's presidency. The operation, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," has already resulted in three American service member deaths, with Iran retaliating by striking multiple Gulf states including Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. Critics note the action was launched without a clear congressional mandate, defined military objectives, or post-conflict strategy, drawing comparisons to the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War. The article identifies five major uncertainties surrounding the conflict: ongoing American casualties, the absence of a clear definition of victory, potential conflicts between Trump's business interests in Gulf states and US strategic goals, the historically fraught and costly nature of US-Iran relations, and deep uncertainty about how the conflict will ultimately conclude.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll of 1,282 U.S. adults released Sunday found that only 27 percent of Americans approve of the Trump administration's strikes on Iran, with 43 percent disapproving and 29 percent unsure. Roughly half of respondents, including one in four Republicans, said Trump was too willing to use military force. The low approval contrasts sharply with public support for the 2003 Iraq invasion, which ranged from 52 to 72 percent in Gallup polling before and after it began. Congress is expected to vote this week on a war powers resolution aimed at halting the strikes.
Vice President JD Vance was reportedly sidelined during U.S. and Israeli coordinated strikes on Iran, with senior officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth playing central roles while Vance received updates via secure line from the White House Situation Room. The move reflects an apparent rift between Trump and Vance over foreign military involvement, as Vance had publicly stated just a day before the strikes that there was "no chance" the U.S. would become entangled in a prolonged Middle Eastern war. Following the strikes, Trump openly discussed the possibility of regime change in Iran, a position that reportedly conflicted with Vance's longstanding opposition to "forever wars." Vance has since been redirected toward domestic priorities, including energy policy and federal fraud oversight, keeping him removed from the center of the Iran crisis.
