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Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israel military campaign against Iran, could last four or five weeks, President Trump said on Sunday.
In an interview with The New York Times, Trump said the operation could continue for as long as five weeks, adding that a “big portion” of Iran’s naval forces have already been destroyed, leaving Iran “substantially weakened.”
Trump discussed possibilities for the future leadership of Iran, but did not say whether he was committed to regime change.
“I don’t make a commitment one way or the other; it’s too early. We have work to do and we’ve done it very well. I’d say we’re quite ahead of schedule.”
In line with his eight-minute address to the nation on Saturday, Trump said it was up to the Iranian people to remove the religious government, which is currently headless after the assassination of supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
“That’s going to be up to them about whether or not they do,” he said.
“They’ve been talking about it for years so now they’ll obviously have an opportunity.”
Trump suggested that “what we did in Venezuela”—removing President Nicolas Maduro and allowing a new interim president to be appointed by the regime—was “the perfect scenario.”
He said he has “three very good choices” to replace Khamenei, but that he would reveal them at this time.
“Let’s get the job done first.”
President Trump added that he would consider lifting sanctions on Iran if its new leadership showed a willingness to work with the US.
On Sunday, it was announced that an interim leadership council would be established to govern Iran after Khamenei’s death and the death of dozens of senior figures, civilian, religious and military.
Iran’s king-in-exile, Reza Pahlavi, has said he would be happy to serve as a transition leader, but would not run for office.
“They trust me as a transitional leader; not as the future king or future president or future whatever. I’m totally focused on my mission in life, which is, let me bring the country to a point that they can make that free choice. That would be enough for me having said mission accomplished,” he said.
