President signals desire to remove Iran’s leadership structure quickly as Israeli strikes target Tehran in ‘new phase’ of conflict
Washington — President Donald Trump has dismissed the possibility of deploying US ground troops into Iran for now, describing military intervention as a “waste of time” amid the escalating conflict with Tehran following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a telephone interview with NBC News on Thursday, Trump rejected Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s warning that a ground invasion would spell disaster for any foreign force attempting to enter the country.
“It’s a waste of time. They’ve lost everything. They’ve lost their navy. They’ve lost everything they can lose,” Trump told NBC. He characterized Araghchi’s warning as a “wasted comment.”
The president indicated he favours swift action to remove Iran’s leadership structure, stating “we want to go in and clean out everything” quickly. “We don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period,” he added.
Trump confirmed he has potential successors in mind for Iran’s leadership but declined to name any individuals, having previously stated he would “have to be involved” in appointing the country’s next leader.
Conflict Intensifies
The remarks come as heavy attacks were reported in Tehran on Friday, with Israel announcing it was targeting “regime infrastructure” in what it described as a “new phase” of the war launched with the US against Iran.
Coordinated US-Israeli strikes killed Khamenei on Saturday, triggering a sharp escalation in regional hostilities. Iran has since launched waves of missile attacks on Israeli territory and US targets across the Middle East.
Trump’s stance reflects longstanding administration scepticism of prolonged ground operations in the region while pursuing decisive outcomes through air and missile strikes. The president’s comments suggest a strategy focused on degrading Iranian military capabilities without committing to extensive occupation.
