US President Donald Trump broke his silence Sunday on the first US casualties of the Iran war in an exclusive phone interview with the
Daily Mail.
Three US service members were killed in the fighting. They have yet to be identified publicly.
'They're great people,' the president said. 'And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous - it could happen again.'
Trump acknowledged that the three casualties were the first in his second term, as the January capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and the June bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities were pulled off without a single American death.
'We've done pretty well,' he noted, adding, 'But they're great people, with outstanding records, outstanding.'
Trump also revealed a potential timeline for the war with Iran - suggesting fighting could go on for the next four weeks.
'It's always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It's always been about a four-week process so - as strong as it is, it's a big country, it'll take four weeks - or less,' the president explained.
He said he hasn't been surprised by any of the outcomes of the strikes thus far.
'No, I think it's going as per planned. You know, other than we took out their entire leadership - far, far more than what we thought. Looks like 48,' he answered.
The president remained open to more talks with the Iranians, but couldn't say if they would happen 'soon.'
'I don't know,' he answered. 'They want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week.'
The president spoke to the Daily Mail from his Mar-a-Lago resort, where he's been hunkered down since ordering the strikes on Iran.
The president, as he said he would during that interview, addressed the American people again via a Truth Social video later Sunday afternoon.
He vowed to 'avenge' US troops killed in the war in Iran, issued a new ultimatum to the enemy and implored America to back his battle for 'freedom' in his second address to the nation in 48 hours.
