United States President Donald Trump recently claimed that 48 senior Iranian leaders had been killed in a single wave of strikes, declaring that Washington’s military offensive against Tehran was “moving along rapidly” and “ahead of schedule.”

The remarks came as the US military pressed forward with “Operation Epic Fury,” a coordinated campaign launched alongside Israel that has dramatically intensified the confrontation in West Asia.

‘48 leaders gone in one shot’

In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, “48 Iranian leaders are gone in one shot,” portraying the operation as a decisive blow to Iran’s command structure.

Speaking separately to NBC News, he described the strikes as “ahead of schedule” and suggested that one potential outcome could be the “decapitation” of Iran’s leadership.

“We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world,” Trump said, framing the operation as a global security imperative.

The strikes, launched February 28, reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades. His death marks one of the most consequential moments in Iran’s modern political history.

Netanyahu signals more strikes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the campaign is far from over, saying Israeli strikes against Tehran would intensify in the coming days.

The coordinated assault has sent shockwaves across the region, raising fears of wider escalation even as Washington insists the operation is progressing according to plan.

‘Fantastic’ scenes in Los Angeles

In comments to MSNBC, Trump said he had watched celebrations among sections of the Iranian diaspora in the United States following Khamenei’s killing. He described scenes in Los Angeles — home to one of the largest Iranian communities outside Iran — as “fantastic.”

The remarks underscored the deeply polarised reactions unfolding both inside and outside Iran as the country grapples with sudden leadership upheaval.

Tehran signals willingness to talk

Even as military operations continue, Trump suggested a diplomatic opening may be emerging.

In an interview with The Atlantic, the president said Iran’s new leadership had signalled a readiness to return to negotiations.

“They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” Trump said. “They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.”

The comments hint at a possible pivot from battlefield escalation to high-stakes diplomacy — though no timeline for talks has been announced.

Nine Iranian naval ships ‘destroyed and sunk’

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that US forces had “destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian naval ships,” adding that American forces were pursuing additional targets.

“We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea,” he wrote.

The claims, if verified, would mark one of the most significant maritime losses for Iran in recent history.

As Washington touts rapid gains and Tehran confronts a leadership vacuum, the conflict appears to be entering a volatile new phase — one where military escalation and tentative diplomatic signals are unfolding simultaneously, with global consequences hanging in the balance.