Because the Iranians get nearer to naming their subsequent supreme chief, President Donald Trump mentioned Sunday the brand new chief “shouldn’t be going to final lengthy” if the Iranians do not get his approval first.
“He’s going to must get approval from us,” the president advised ABC Information. “If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to final lengthy. We need to make it possible for we don’t have to return each 10 years, while you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it.”
He added, “I don’t need individuals to have to return in 5 years and must do the identical factor once more or worse allow them to have a nuclear weapon.”
When requested if he could be prepared to approve somebody with ties to the previous regime, Trump replied, “I might, with the intention to select a superb chief I might, yeah, I might. There are quite a few individuals that would qualify.”
Seeming to supply yet one more justification for this battle, Trump mentioned Iran was planning to take over your complete Center East, and advised he stopped them from doing so.
“They’re a paper tiger. They weren’t a paper tiger per week in the past, I’ll let you know. They usually have been going to assault,” he mentioned. “Their plan was to assault your complete Center East, to take over your complete Center East.”
He additionally hasn’t dominated out sending in particular forces to grab Iran’s enriched uranium: “Every thing is on the desk. Every thing.”
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters whereas touring aboard Air Pressure One en route from Dover Air Pressure Base, Del., to Miami, March 7, 2026.
Saul Loeb/AFP by way of Getty Photos
A senior administration official advised reporters final week that Iran has enriched sufficient uranium to get to weapons grade materials in 10 days or much less.
A lot of the uranium is believed to be held on the websites bombed throughout Operation Midnight Hammer — Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow — in accordance with the official.
“In concept, if we had bodily management of that territory, if we had bodily management of these locations the place it is situated, we may ship our individuals in and dilute it on premise,” the official mentioned.
Plumes of smoke from a U.S.-Israeli strike on an oil facility late Saturday linger and merge with the cloudy sky over Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026.
Vahid Salemi/AP
Over the weekend, Trump met with the households of the six U.S. fallen troopers. Did witnessing the dignified transfers give him pause?
“No, in no way,” he mentioned. “The dad and mom could be upset if I did that. The dad and mom mentioned to me, each one among them, please sir, win this for my boy, and in a single case a younger girl, as you already know. Please, win this for my little one.”
He added, “It was a wonderful occasion. It was a wonderful, lovely occasion, the place I met the dad and mom. They have been devastated however proud.”
Trump mentioned he wouldn’t predict how lengthy the battle would final when pressed on a timeline.
“I don’t know. I by no means predict. All I can say is we’re forward of schedule each when it comes to lethality and when it comes to time,” he mentioned.
An explosion erupts following strikes close to Azadi Tower near Mehrabad Worldwide Airport in Tehran, March 7, 2026.
Atta Kenare/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Final week, the president advised reporters this battle would final simply 4 to 5 weeks.
Within the interview, the president additionally dismissed rising gasoline costs as a “little glitch.”
“I feel it’s advantageous. It’s a bit of glitch. We needed to take this detour,” he mentioned. “I knew precisely what was going to occur with the detour. However the good half is we sank 44 of their ships which is their complete navy. We’ve knocked out their complete AirForce. We’ve knocked out all of their communications, telecommunications. Their anti-aircraft methods are gone. They’ve completely no protection. All they’ve is discuss.”
Among the president’s longtime supporters have raised questions on this operation, however Trump denied there’s been any pushback from his base.
“It’s extra in style than ever. It’s a really MAGA factor what we’re doing. A really very MAGA factor,” he mentioned. “As a result of in any other case we gained’t have a rustic both, we’ll be hit. And MAGA is all about saving America … I’m on the highest level I’ve ever been with MAGA.”
