Trump hails strikes on Iran, says early outcomes “way beyond expectation”

US President Donald Trump praised what he called the success of a joint US-Israeli military operation in an interview with Fox News.

“Way beyond expectation in terms of result this early,” Trump said. “When we attacked them first, we knocked out 50% of their missiles, and if we didn't, it would have been a much harder fight. If we waited three days, I believe we would have been attacked.”

Trump highlighted the element of surprise in the timing of the operation. He also said special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner informed him that Iran claims it has enough enriched uranium to produce 11 nuclear bombs.

“I said, you know, they're not playing this smart. Because they're basically saying that I have to attack them. They should have just said, 'We're not going to build a nuclear missile,’” the president said.

Asked whether he is willing to talk with Iranian leaders, Trump replied, “I'm hearing they want to talk badly. It's possible, depends on what terms, possible, only possible... You know, we sort of don't have to speak anymore, you know, if you really think about it, but it's possible.”

Trump also expressed surprise that Iran, in response to US and Israeli attacks, targeted Gulf countries. “One of the things that surprised me most was when they attacked countries that were not attacking them,” he said.

Commenting on reports of a strike on a girls’ school in Iran, Trump said, “It’s only under investigation, but we are not the only ones with that particular rocket.”

By Jeyhun Aghazada