In a shocking development the President Donald Trump deployed the US military 'Doomsday planes' as war in West Asia entered its 10th day after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on multiple high-value targets in Iran on February 28, including decapitation strikes on top leaders of the Islamic Republic, resulting in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the attacks.&nbsp;Flight-tracking data has captured multiple launches of the Navy's E-6B Mercury strategic airborne command aircraft since the war in Iran began, the Daily Mail reported.&nbsp;Two E-6B Mercury flights were spotted over the US on March 2, one travelling from the Gulf Coast and landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, and the other taking off and later landing back at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, according to the Daily Mail.&nbsp;Since those flights, there have been reports from military news outlets of more E-6B launches heading across the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/how-much-gold-can-indians-bring-from-dubai-as-west-asia-war-sparks-gold-rush-1773063872594">How much gold can Indians bring from Dubai? as West Asia war sparks gold rush</a>&nbsp;These developments sparked fear of a nuclear war as situations in West Asia continue to escalate after Iran nominated the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.<h2>What are Doomsday Planes</h2>The E-6B Mercury is known as "Doomsday planes" because their mission is to ensure that the US can launch nuclear counterstrikes even if all ground-based headquarters are destroyed. Built to survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), it serves as the ultimate fail-safe for the President and military leaders.&nbsp;Its primary role, TACAMO ("Take Charge And Move Out"), allows it to communicate with nuclear submarines by unspooling a five-mile-long antenna.&nbsp;Additionally, it can remotely fire land-based ICBMs directly from the air. Because it carries the specific "launch codes" and command authority required to initiate global nuclear war, it is considered a flying insurance policy that a devastating retaliation remains possible during the apocalypse.&nbsp;The fears of nuclear escalation and the war in West Asia triggering a third world war become significant as Iran continues to strike US military bases, embassies and other key targets across Gulf nations.&nbsp;While both China and Russia, which are considered close to Iran, warned that the situation could spiral out of control, leading to a large war. Several reports also suggested that Moscow had begun supporting Iran by providing intelligence on the position of US forces deployed in the region. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

The E-6B Mercury is known as "Doomsday planes" because their mission is to ensure that the US can launch nuclear counterstrikes even if all ground-based headquarters are destroyed.

In a shocking development the President Donald Trump deployed the US military 'Doomsday planes' as war in West Asia entered its 10th day after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes on multiple high-value targets in Iran on February 28, including decapitation strikes on top leaders of the Islamic Republic, resulting in the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the attacks. Flight-tracking data has captured multiple launches of the Navy's E-6B Mercury strategic airborne command aircraft since the war in Iran began, the Daily Mail reported. Two E-6B Mercury flights were spotted over the US on March 2, one travelling from the Gulf Coast and landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, and the other taking off and later landing back at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, according to the Daily Mail. Since those flights, there have been reports from military news outlets of more E-6B launches heading across the Atlantic to the Persian Gulf. Also Read: How much gold can Indians bring from Dubai? as West Asia war sparks gold rush These developments sparked fear of a nuclear war as situations in West Asia continue to escalate after Iran nominated the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. What are Doomsday Planes The E-6B Mercury is known as "Doomsday planes" because their mission is to ensure that the US can launch nuclear counterstrikes even if all ground-based headquarters are destroyed. Built to survive an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), it serves as the ultimate fail-safe for the President and military leaders. Its primary role, TACAMO ("Take Charge And Move Out"), allows it to communicate with nuclear submarines by unspooling a five-mile-long antenna. Additionally, it can remotely fire land-based ICBMs directly from the air. Because it carries the specific "launch codes" and command authority required to initiate global nuclear war, it is considered a flying insurance policy that a devastating retaliation remains possible during the apocalypse. The fears of nuclear escalation and the war in West Asia triggering a third world war become significant as Iran continues to strike US military bases, embassies and other key targets across Gulf nations. While both China and Russia, which are considered close to Iran, warned that the situation could spiral out of control, leading to a large war. Several reports also suggested that Moscow had begun supporting Iran by providing intelligence on the position of US forces deployed in the region. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

The E-6B Mercury is known as "Doomsday planes" because their mission is to ensure that the US can launch nuclear counterstrikes even if all ground-based headquarters are destroyed.

Trump deploys ‘Doomsday’ nuclear command planes to West Asia amid WW3 fears

President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 02) said the United States "continues to carry out large-scale combat operations" in Iran and stated our aims are clear: first, destroying Tehran's missile capabilities," second, &nbsp;preventing the Islamic Republic from making nuclear weapons and third, "ensuring it cannot fund or direct armies outside its borders"&nbsp;He further said Washington acted on 'last best chance' to hit the Islamic Republic and claimed that "we are 'substantially ahead' of timeline in Iran war adding that "We projected four to five weeks", but the United States is able to "fight Iran war far beyond 4-5 weeks."&nbsp;"We're already substantially ahead of our time projections," Trump said at the White House, adding: “From the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it.”&nbsp;The president stated that, “We warned Iran not to rebuild at a different location” after we blew up nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, but they went ahead, Trump claimed, adding that "an Iran with nuclear weapons would be intolerable to the US". &nbsp;These statements come after US-Israeli operations in Iran entered its third day on Monday after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the US and Israel launched a massive coordinated aerial campaign on Saturday.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-will-defend-our-six-thousand-year-old-civilisation-iran-ready-for-long-war-with-the-us-israel-1772461387076">'Will defend our six-thousand-year-old civilisation': Iran ready for 'long war' with the US-Israel</a>&nbsp;The strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, targeted government buildings, military installations, and suspected nuclear facilities, while aiming specifically to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched strikes on Israel, US military bases and its allies across West Asia, including Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.&nbsp;After a series of attacks and counterattacks, the conflict in West Asia expanded beyond the region after the Iranian military struck a British military base in Cyprus and a French naval base known as Camp de la Paix in Abu Dhabi, risking participation of major European countries, including France, the UK and Germany, who vowed to protect their interests in the region.&nbsp; &nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump said that the US attack on Iran is meeting its goals ahead of schedule, but also warned the war could go "far longer" than his initial estimates of about a month.

President Donald Trump on Monday (Mar 02) said the United States "continues to carry out large-scale combat operations" in Iran and stated our aims are clear: first, destroying Tehran's missile capabilities," second, preventing the Islamic Republic from making nuclear weapons and third, "ensuring it cannot fund or direct armies outside its borders" He further said Washington acted on 'last best chance' to hit the Islamic Republic and claimed that "we are 'substantially ahead' of timeline in Iran war adding that "We projected four to five weeks", but the United States is able to "fight Iran war far beyond 4-5 weeks." "We're already substantially ahead of our time projections," Trump said at the White House, adding: “From the beginning, we projected four to five weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that. We'll do it.” The president stated that, “We warned Iran not to rebuild at a different location” after we blew up nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, but they went ahead, Trump claimed, adding that "an Iran with nuclear weapons would be intolerable to the US". These statements come after US-Israeli operations in Iran entered its third day on Monday after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the US and Israel launched a massive coordinated aerial campaign on Saturday. Also Read: 'Will defend our six-thousand-year-old civilisation': Iran ready for 'long war' with the US-Israel The strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, targeted government buildings, military installations, and suspected nuclear facilities, while aiming specifically to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership. In retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched strikes on Israel, US military bases and its allies across West Asia, including Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. After a series of attacks and counterattacks, the conflict in West Asia expanded beyond the region after the Iranian military struck a British military base in Cyprus and a French naval base known as Camp de la Paix in Abu Dhabi, risking participation of major European countries, including France, the UK and Germany, who vowed to protect their interests in the region. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump said that the US attack on Iran is meeting its goals ahead of schedule, but also warned the war could go "far longer" than his initial estimates of about a month.

US-Israel-Iran war: Trump says acted on 'last best chance' to hit Iran after failed talks

Two days after the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israel strike, US President Donald Trump said, "I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first." He was hinting at US intelligence agency reports which alleged a possible 2024 Iranian plot to kill Trump.&nbsp;The US President made these statements while speaking with a US journalist on the phone. "I just spoke to President Trump for several minutes about Iran. I asked him about who is going to take over now that the Ayatollah, the Supreme Leader, is gone, and his answer was interesting. He said the attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/attacks-on-iran-will-continue-until-all-of-our-objectives-are-achieved-trump-issues-fresh-warning-1772408635896">Attacks on Iran will ‘continue until all of our objectives are achieved’: Trump issues fresh warning</a>&nbsp;"He told me it's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they're all dead. I talked to him about the fact that the Iranians had tried to kill him. There was a plot in 2024, an Iranian plot to try to kill Trump, and he said of the Ayatollah, 'I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first,'" Karl added in a video posted on X.&nbsp;On the three American casualties in the Iran operations, Trump stated, "It’s war, and you have casualties in war." In a self-praising tone, the US President said that with all the operations he has conducted as president in Venezuela, the one last summer in Iran, and this one, the total American casualty count is three.&nbsp;The US-Israeli operation in Iran entered its third day after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the US and Israel launched a massive coordinated aerial campaign on Saturday.&nbsp;The strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, struck multiple sites across Iran. The strikes targeted government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities, specifically aiming to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched strikes on Israel, US military bases, and its allies across West Asia, including Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.Meanwhile, Trump threatened Iranian forces to put down their weapons and called on Iran's people to rise to "take back your country" as this is "the single greatest chance" after Khamenei's death.&nbsp;"I once again urge the [IRGC], the Iranian military and police to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain death. It won't be pretty," he said.&nbsp;Tehran vowed to avenge the death of the Supreme Leader and declared that it would not negotiate with the United States.

Trump was hinting at US intelligence agency reports which alleged a possible 2024 Iranian plot to kill him.

Two days after the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a joint US-Israel strike, US President Donald Trump said, "I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first." He was hinting at US intelligence agency reports which alleged a possible 2024 Iranian plot to kill Trump. The US President made these statements while speaking with a US journalist on the phone. "I just spoke to President Trump for several minutes about Iran. I asked him about who is going to take over now that the Ayatollah, the Supreme Leader, is gone, and his answer was interesting. He said the attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl said. Also Read: Attacks on Iran will ‘continue until all of our objectives are achieved’: Trump issues fresh warning "He told me it's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they're all dead. I talked to him about the fact that the Iranians had tried to kill him. There was a plot in 2024, an Iranian plot to try to kill Trump, and he said of the Ayatollah, 'I got him before he got me. They tried twice. Well, I got him first,'" Karl added in a video posted on X. On the three American casualties in the Iran operations, Trump stated, "It’s war, and you have casualties in war." In a self-praising tone, the US President said that with all the operations he has conducted as president in Venezuela, the one last summer in Iran, and this one, the total American casualty count is three. The US-Israeli operation in Iran entered its third day after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the US and Israel launched a massive coordinated aerial campaign on Saturday. The strikes, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, struck multiple sites across Iran. The strikes targeted government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities, specifically aiming to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership. In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard launched strikes on Israel, US military bases, and its allies across West Asia, including Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Meanwhile, Trump threatened Iranian forces to put down their weapons and called on Iran's people to rise to "take back your country" as this is "the single greatest chance" after Khamenei's death. "I once again urge the [IRGC], the Iranian military and police to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death. It will be certain death. It won't be pretty," he said. Tehran vowed to avenge the death of the Supreme Leader and declared that it would not negotiate with the United States.

Trump was hinting at US intelligence agency reports which alleged a possible 2024 Iranian plot to kill him .

I got him before he got me: Trump reveals personal motive behind Khamenei assassination strike

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 01) said he would be talking to Iranian leaders but did not specify the timing, AFP reported, citing The Atlantic. The US-Israeli operation in Iran entered its second day after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday in a precision strike on the Pasteur Street compound in central Tehran.&nbsp;"They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner," Trump was quoted as saying by The Atlantic, as US and Israeli forces press a war against Iran for a second day.&nbsp;The US president asserted that Iran should have "done it sooner, they could have made a deal. They played too cute," while adding that "most of those people are gone," referring to the Iranian leadership which has been in years of on-and-off talks with the US and other Western governments.&nbsp;In a separate interview, Trump claimed that 48 senior Iranian leaders had been killed in the military strikes that were launched by the United States and Israel in the early hours of Saturday.&nbsp;"Nobody can believe the success we're having; 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it's moving along rapidly," Trump was quoted as saying in an interview by Fox News.&nbsp;The United States and Israel launched a coordinated decapitation military campaign specifically targeting the top leadership of the Islamic Republic. The strikes, codenamed Operation Epic Fury by the US and Operation Roaring Lion (or Shield of Judah) by Israel, also hit key sites in Iran, including government buildings, military headquarters in Tehran, and suspected nuclear facilities.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, the Iranian embassy in Jakarta welcomed Indonesia's offer to mediate between Tehran and Washington, indicating a softening in Tehran’s stance, even as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed the "most intense offensive operation in history" following the death of Khamenei.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump claimed that 48 senior Iranian leaders had been killed in the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 01) said he would be talking to Iranian leaders but did not specify the timing, AFP reported, citing The Atlantic. The US-Israeli operation in Iran entered its second day after assassinating Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday in a precision strike on the Pasteur Street compound in central Tehran. "They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner," Trump was quoted as saying by The Atlantic, as US and Israeli forces press a war against Iran for a second day. The US president asserted that Iran should have "done it sooner, they could have made a deal. They played too cute," while adding that "most of those people are gone," referring to the Iranian leadership which has been in years of on-and-off talks with the US and other Western governments. In a separate interview, Trump claimed that 48 senior Iranian leaders had been killed in the military strikes that were launched by the United States and Israel in the early hours of Saturday. "Nobody can believe the success we're having; 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it's moving along rapidly," Trump was quoted as saying in an interview by Fox News. The United States and Israel launched a coordinated decapitation military campaign specifically targeting the top leadership of the Islamic Republic. The strikes, codenamed Operation Epic Fury by the US and Operation Roaring Lion (or Shield of Judah) by Israel, also hit key sites in Iran, including government buildings, military headquarters in Tehran, and suspected nuclear facilities. Earlier in the day, the Iranian embassy in Jakarta welcomed Indonesia's offer to mediate between Tehran and Washington, indicating a softening in Tehran’s stance, even as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed the "most intense offensive operation in history" following the death of Khamenei. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump claimed that 48 senior Iranian leaders had been killed in the military strikes launched by the United States and Israel on Saturday.

'I will be talking to them': Trump says Iran's new leaders want to talk after killing of Khamenei

Following reports of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death in a US–Israeli strike, the Islamic Republic erupted in joy as scenes of celebration broke out across the country. Despite a massive internet blackout and a heavy security presence, the atmosphere in several major cities shifted from fear to defiance, the Jerusalem Post reported.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">After Khamenei&#39;s death: Fireworks of celebration in Iran <a href="https://t.co/lgPApS4hIP">pic.twitter.com/lgPApS4hIP</a>&mdash; Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitSegal/status/2027841397022204187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Witnesses said on Saturday that loud cheers echoed across parts of Tehran, with residents taking to their windows to applaud and play celebratory music after reports of Khamenei's death. The celebrations began shortly after 11 pm (1930 GMT), according to multiple witnesses and audio recordings.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Iranians are celebrating the news of Khamenei’s death. Listen to this man live from Karaj, near Tehran. “Every Iranian is celebrating the powerful actions of Donald Trump. He’s like Jesus for us. He’s a savior of the Iranian people. We will always be grateful to him.” <a href="https://t.co/mIObPL8Q3E">pic.twitter.com/mIObPL8Q3E</a>&mdash; Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) <a href="https://twitter.com/ariel_oseran/status/2027838530362179834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Announcing the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader in a social media post, US President Donald Trump said, "Death of Khamenei gives Iranians the 'greatest chance' to 'take back their country.'"&nbsp;"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead," Trump added on his Truth Social network.&nbsp;Trump further stated that the US operation in Iran would continue as long as necessary:"The country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or as long as necessary to achieve our objective."&nbsp;On Saturday, the United States and Israel jointly struck targets across Iran following the failure of recent nuclear talks in Oman and Switzerland. The military strikes, named Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, hit over 30 sites across Iran, including government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated Operation True Promise 4, targeting Israel and American bases across West Asia. Tehran launched missiles toward the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.&nbsp;The US–Israel strikes and Iranian counterstrikes triggered fears of the conflict spiralling into a regional war, as several countries in West Asia came under attack. Missile exchanges between the two sides continued, leading to widespread airspace closures and flight disruptions across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Announcing the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader in a social media post, US President Donald Trump said, “Death of Khamenei gives Iranians the 'greatest chance' to 'take back their country.'”

Following reports of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death in a US–Israeli strike, the Islamic Republic erupted in joy as scenes of celebration broke out across the country. Despite a massive internet blackout and a heavy security presence, the atmosphere in several major cities shifted from fear to defiance, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Announcing the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader in a social media post, US President Donald Trump said, “Death of Khamenei gives Iranians the 'greatest chance' to 'take back their country.'”

Watch | Celebrations erupt in Iran after Trump announces Khamenei’s death in US–Israeli strikes

President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 01) claimed that the United States "has a very good idea" about who could be the next leader of Iran and asserted that the US–Israeli attack on Iran is going "very well," adding that it will last "as long as we [the United States] want it to. Actually, it’s already done such damage. It’s like—they are incapacitated, essentially—as long as we wanted it."&nbsp;The US president made these statements during a phone interview with ABC News. When asked about Iranian leadership and whether the US believes they were killed in the strikes, Trump said, "A lot of it is, yeah. But we don't know all, but a lot of it is. Was a very powerful strike."&nbsp;Trump, who is monitoring the US operation in Iran from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, asserted that "the people that make all the decisions" in the Islamic Republic "most of them are gone."&nbsp;When asked about reports of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, Trump said, “We feel that is a correct story.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-ali-shamkhani-advisor-to-iran-s-supreme-leader-khamenei-killed-in-strikes-says-israel-army-who-are-the-other-officials-killed-in-attack-1772310934481">'Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei, killed in strikes', says Israel army. Who are the other officials killed in attack</a>&nbsp;On Saturday, the United States and Israel jointly struck targets across Iran following the failure of recent nuclear talks in Oman and Switzerland. The military strikes, named Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, hit over 30 sites across Iran, including government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated Operation True Promise 4, targeting Israel and American bases across West Asia. Tehran launched missiles toward the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East.&nbsp;The US–Israel strikes and Iranian counterstrikes triggered fears of the conflict spiralling into a regional war as several countries in West Asia came under attack. Missile exchanges between the two sides continued, leading to widespread airspace closures and flight disruptions across the region.&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump, who is monitoring the US operation in Iran from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, asserted that "the people that make all the decisions" in the Islamic Republic “most of them are gone.”

President Donald Trump on Sunday (Mar 01) claimed that the United States "has a very good idea" about who could be the next leader of Iran and asserted that the US–Israeli attack on Iran is going "very well," adding that it will last "as long as we [the United States] want it to. Actually, it’s already done such damage. It’s like—they are incapacitated, essentially—as long as we wanted it." The US president made these statements during a phone interview with ABC News. When asked about Iranian leadership and whether the US believes they were killed in the strikes, Trump said, "A lot of it is, yeah. But we don't know all, but a lot of it is. Was a very powerful strike." Trump, who is monitoring the US operation in Iran from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, asserted that "the people that make all the decisions" in the Islamic Republic "most of them are gone." When asked about reports of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death, Trump said, “We feel that is a correct story.” Also Read: 'Ali Shamkhani, advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei, killed in strikes', says Israel army. Who are the other officials killed in attack On Saturday, the United States and Israel jointly struck targets across Iran following the failure of recent nuclear talks in Oman and Switzerland. The military strikes, named Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, hit over 30 sites across Iran, including government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated Operation True Promise 4, targeting Israel and American bases across West Asia. Tehran launched missiles toward the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. The US–Israel strikes and Iranian counterstrikes triggered fears of the conflict spiralling into a regional war as several countries in West Asia came under attack. Missile exchanges between the two sides continued, leading to widespread airspace closures and flight disruptions across the region. (Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.)

Trump, who is monitoring the US operation in Iran from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, asserted that "the people that make all the decisions" in the Islamic Republic “most of them are gone.”

'We have a very good idea': Trump on next leadership of Iran after US–Israel strike Tehran

Donald Trump was not in Washington while the United States and Israel launched military strikes across multiple targets in Iran on Saturday (Feb 28). Confirming this, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort.&nbsp;“The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump was already away from the national capital when the final decision to launch the operation against Iran was taken. He had flown to Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday night for a scheduled appearance before heading to his Florida estate.&nbsp;Key members of his Cabinet and military advisers, who form Trump’s national security team, also flew to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. He posted his eight-minute-long video on US military actions on Truth Social and held a direct phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the estate.&nbsp;Trump’s Florida estate is often referred to as the “Winter White House” since 2017, when he took over the presidency in his first term. President Trump has used the estate to conduct high-stakes, “transactional” diplomacy, including his meeting with Argentine leader Javier Milei and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leave-tehran-iran-sends-text-alerts-urging-residents-to-evacuate-amid-us-israel-strikes-1772296315793">Leave Tehran: Iran sends text alerts urging residents to evacuate amid US–Israel strikes</a>&nbsp;The US president prefers Mar-a-Lago over White House for key military operations, including Operation Absolute Resolve, leading to the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, and ongoing military operations against the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;According to analysts, by using Mar-a-Lago for important events, Trump is projecting a specific image of his presidency, operating outside the traditional “Beltway” of Washington while still maintaining full command of the US military.<h2>Iran conflict spills into wider West Asia</h2>On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on multiple targets across Iran following the failure of recent nuclear talks in Oman and Switzerland. The military strikes, named Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, reportedly hit over 30 sites across Iran, including government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated Operation True Promise 4, targeting Israel and American bases across West Asia. Tehran launched missiles toward the US Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, &nbsp;the largest US military installation in the Middle East, as well as other sites in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Syria.&nbsp;The US–Israel strikes and Iranian counterstrikes triggered fears of the conflict spiralling into a regional war as several countries in West Asia came under attack. Missile exchanges between the two sides continued, leading to widespread airspace closures and flight disruptions across the region.

Key members of Trump's Cabinet and military advisers, who form his national security team, also flew to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. He posted his eight-minute-long video on US military actions on Truth Social from his residence.

Donald Trump was not in Washington while the United States and Israel launched military strikes across multiple targets in Iran on Saturday (Feb 28). Confirming this, the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said US President Donald Trump and his top aides were “closely” monitoring the Iran situation from his Florida resort. “The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day,” Leavitt said on X, adding that Trump also “monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago.” Trump was already away from the national capital when the final decision to launch the operation against Iran was taken. He had flown to Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday night for a scheduled appearance before heading to his Florida estate. Key members of his Cabinet and military advisers, who form Trump’s national security team, also flew to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. He posted his eight-minute-long video on US military actions on Truth Social and held a direct phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the estate. Trump’s Florida estate is often referred to as the “Winter White House” since 2017, when he took over the presidency in his first term. President Trump has used the estate to conduct high-stakes, “transactional” diplomacy, including his meeting with Argentine leader Javier Milei and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Also Read: Leave Tehran: Iran sends text alerts urging residents to evacuate amid US–Israel strikes The US president prefers Mar-a-Lago over White House for key military operations, including Operation Absolute Resolve, leading to the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, and ongoing military operations against the Islamic Republic. According to analysts, by using Mar-a-Lago for important events, Trump is projecting a specific image of his presidency, operating outside the traditional “Beltway” of Washington while still maintaining full command of the US military. Iran conflict spills into wider West Asia On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on multiple targets across Iran following the failure of recent nuclear talks in Oman and Switzerland. The military strikes, named Operation Roaring Lion by Israel and Operation Epic Fury by the United States, reportedly hit over 30 sites across Iran, including government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated Operation True Promise 4, targeting Israel and American bases across West Asia. Tehran launched missiles toward the US Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, as well as other sites in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Syria. The US–Israel strikes and Iranian counterstrikes triggered fears of the conflict spiralling into a regional war as several countries in West Asia came under attack. Missile exchanges between the two sides continued, leading to widespread airspace closures and flight disruptions across the region.

Key members of Trump's Cabinet and military advisers, who form his national security team, also flew to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. He posted his eight-minute-long video on US military actions on Truth Social from his residence.

Why Trump, his team are not in Washington during the US-Israeli strikes on Iran?

US and Israeli forces struck Iranian military bases today. The operation utilised F-35I stealth fighters for radar evasion and F-15EX jets for heavy payload delivery to dismantle defences.

US and Israeli forces struck Iranian military bases today. The operation utilised F-35I stealth fighters for radar evasion and F-15EX jets for heavy payload delivery to dismantle defences.

'US vs Iran': Which fighter jets led today’s joint attack on Iranian military bases?

The USS Abraham Lincoln enforces a 5-mile exclusion zone primarily for force protection, flight operations, and collision avoidance. This buffer allows the massive ship to maneuver freely and identify threats early, while keeping civilian mariners safe from operational hazards.

The USS Abraham Lincoln enforces a 5-mile exclusion zone primarily for force protection, flight operations, and collision avoidance. This buffer allows the massive ship to maneuver freely and identify threats early, while keeping civilian mariners safe from operational hazards.

'The 5-mile rule': Why other ships must stay far from the USS Abraham Lincoln

 Iran’s currency has lost roughly 20,000 times its value since 1979 due to US sanctions, political turmoil, and economic mismanagement. The rial fell from 70 per USD to over 1.4 million.

&nbsp;Iran’s currency has lost roughly 20,000 times its value since 1979 due to US sanctions, political turmoil, and economic mismanagement. The rial fell from 70 per USD to over 1.4 million.

Why has Iran’s rial lost about 20,000× of its value since 1979?

Can Trump use Delta Force against Iran? As Commander-in-Chief, the President has the authority to deploy this Tier 1 unit for precise, high-stakes missions. Known for secrecy and elite skills, Delta Force offers an option for surgical strikes without full-scale war.


Can Trump use Delta Force against Iran? As Commander-in-Chief, the President has the authority to deploy this Tier 1 unit for precise, high-stakes missions. Known for secrecy and elite skills, Delta Force offers an option for surgical strikes without full-scale war.

Can Trump send US Delta Force into Iran? What makes them unique

The US Special Forces and Iran's elite units possess vastly different strengths. While American units like the Navy SEALs hold a clear advantage in technology, budget, and firepower, Iran's Quds Force excels in asymmetric warfare and proxy networks. 

The US Special Forces and Iran's elite units possess vastly different strengths. While American units like the Navy SEALs hold a clear advantage in technology, budget, and firepower, Iran's Quds Force excels in asymmetric warfare and proxy networks.&nbsp;

Who would win? Comparing the special forces of the US and Iran in case of a war