In a phone interview with CBS News late Saturday evening, President Trump dismissed threats by Iran’s top national security official, Ali Larijani, who posted on social media that Mr. Trump must “pay the price” US-Israel attacks Iran.
Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a longtime confidant of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, emerged as one of Iran’s most senior leaders after Khamenei’s assassination on February 28 on the first day of the war.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, who you are. I didn’t care,” Mr. Trump told CBS News, adding that Larijani “has already been defeated.”
Mr. Trump has also pushed back against the latest wave of critical statements from Larijani and others Iran’s leaderscalling them weak and declining in the region. He also indicated that US strikes would continue as he demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian released a video apologizing to Iran’s neighbors for their retaliatory strikes on Israel and US bases in the Middle East, and said they would stop striking other Persian Gulf states unless they were attacked first. Pezeshkian later took back his words.
“We did not attack our friendly countries and neighbors. Instead, we targeted US military bases, facilities, and installations in the region,” Pezeshkian said in a subsequent social media post that did not include an apology.
“He intended to take over the Middle East and he agreed and surrendered all those countries for me,” Mr. Trump told CBS News Saturday night, when asked about Larijani. “He has surrendered to all the countries in the Middle East because he is trying to take over the entire Middle East. That is why all those rockets have been aimed at those countries. He planned that, long before this started.”
The stiff back-and-forth between the president and Iran’s leaders underscores the uncertainty about who the US might want to work with in the coming weeks as Iran’s leadership contests Mr. Trump on the military campaign and internal tensions within Iran.
Although Larijani is the only important voice, the three-man interim council that includes Pezeshkian now has the most power in the country’s governance.
Broadly speaking, Mr. Trump expressed confidence on Saturday evening about his strategy and policy in the Middle East, telling CBS News that the US has succeeded in reducing the Iranian military and the regime, and will continue to expand its goals inside Iran.
“It was amazing, the work we did. The arrows hit the archers,” said Mr. “They’re too small. Drones are being shot down. Factories are being blown up as we speak. The navy is gone, it’s under the sea. Forty-two ships, 42, in six days, 42 ships. The navy is gone. The air force is gone. Every part of their military is gone. Their leadership is gone.
The US Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said on Friday at least 43 Iranian ships had been damaged or destroyed in US strikes and more than 3,000 targets had been attacked since the war began.
“We are winning at unprecedented rates and quickly,” said Mr. Trump.
Regarding America’s allies, Trump said he is focusing on US military efforts and nations that were early adopters of his approach and strikes.
When asked if he would like to see America’s allies do more this time, Mr. Trump said, “I couldn’t care less. They can do whatever they want. The loyalists are in.”
His comments came hours after the president noted on Truth Social that the UK had prepared two aircraft carriers to be sent to the Middle East. Mr. Trump wrote in his letter that those carriers will not be needed, reprimanding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was pointed out by Mr.
Mr. Trump told CBS News that the possibility of the British sending the aircraft carriers is a late and unnecessary action.
“It’s too late to send out the ships, isn’t it? It’s a little late,” said Mr. Trump.
