Three American service members have been killed and five others wounded during ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran. President Donald Trump acknowledged the deaths in a phone interview, saying, “We have three, but we expect casualties, but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world.” The U.S. Central Command confirmed the casualties came from military actions that began as a joint U.S.-Israeli operation early Saturday morning, February 28.
Trump announced on Saturday that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in the strikes. According to NBC News, he also told reporters that a “large amount” of Iran’s other senior leaders had been killed. On Sunday, he said the operation was “ahead of schedule,” noting that “when we get 48 leaders, that’s a big event.”
Trump said his reason for launching the strikes was “very simple,” citing Iran’s refusal to stop nuclear research and its unwillingness to commit to not building a nuclear weapon. When asked about his goals, he said, “There are many outcomes that are good. Number one is decapitating them, getting rid of their whole group of killers and thugs.” He added there are “many, many outcomes,” pointing to both shorter and longer versions of the operation.
Congress is divided, and serious questions remain about America’s strategy and goals
Since the strikes began, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the Middle East. Trump also posted on Truth Social that the U.S. had “destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships,” and that the rest of the Iranian fleet “will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea.”
He also claimed a U.S.-led attack had “largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters.” Critics have pointed to Trump’s old tweets about Obama and Iran strikes as a contradiction of his current position.
BREAKING: Trump issues statement on dead soldiers killed by Iran, saying that there will likely be more deaths but “that’s just the way it is”.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 1, 2026
Yeah I agree. “That’s just the way it is,” when a convicted criminal takes control of our military, tears up a nuclear agreement and… pic.twitter.com/pBL2ekftPl
In a video posted early Saturday, Trump urged Iranian citizens to take control of their government, saying, “It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.” He has not publicly addressed the American people about the operation since that video.
Trump said Iranian officials “are talking” with the U.S., though he gave no names or details on what is being discussed. When asked if he would stop striking Iran while talks are ongoing, he said, “I don’t know,” but added he would consider it “if they can satisfy us,” noting that “they haven’t been able to” so far.
Lawmakers have responded with mixed reactions. Most Republicans have supported the strikes, while most Democrats have criticized Trump for acting without congressional approval. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said “it’s in America’s interest to make sure that Iran can no longer be the largest state sponsor of terrorism.”
The strikes come amid a broader period of legal scrutiny for Trump, with separate controversy arising from DOJ allegations involving withheld Epstein files. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna pushed back, telling reporters, “Khamenei was a brutal dictator, but Americans are not safer today.”
Democratic Senator Mark Kelly also questioned the administration’s plan, saying, “Hope is not a strategy. We got to have a plan here. I mean, what is the strategic goal, and how do we achieve it?” When Congress returns this week, lawmakers are expected to vote on a war powers resolution that would require the president to seek congressional approval before continuing military operations in Iran.
