Trump says 48 senior Iranian leaders killed 'in one shot' as US-Israel strikes moving 'rapidly’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Sunday, March 1, that at least 48 senior Iranian leaders have been killed amid ongoing US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, describing the operation as unfolding faster and more successfully than expected.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News anchor Jacqui Heinrich, Trump portrayed the campaign as a decisive strike against what he called a deeply entrenched and violent regime.

“It’s moving along. It’s moving along rapidly. This has been this way for 47 years,” Trump said.

“Nobody can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly.”

Months of intelligence tracking

Earlier Sunday, CNN reported that Israeli and American intelligence agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), had been closely monitoring Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for months prior to the strike that reportedly killed him.

According to the report, intelligence officials tracked Khamenei’s daily routines and movements, as well as those of Iran’s top political and military leadership, waiting for an opportunity when multiple senior figures would be exposed.

In recent days, intelligence assessments indicated that Khamenei and several top administration officials were scheduled to meet Saturday morning at different locations within a heavily guarded Tehran compound housing the offices of the supreme leader, the Iranian presidency and the national security apparatus, a convergence that left Iran’s leadership vulnerable to a coordinated military strike.

Trump says Iran operation ‘ahead of schedule’ 

In a separate phone interview with CNBC, Trump said the US operation in Iran was progressing faster than planned.

“It’s a very violent regime, one of the most violent regimes in history,” Trump said. “We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world. And everything is ahead of schedule.”

“Things are evolving in a very positive way right now,” he added, sharing his confidence in the military campaign and its broader objectives.

Trump monitors crisis from Florida

Trump remained at his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach on Sunday, March 1, where officials said he continued to monitor developments in the Middle East and maintain contact with advisers as the situation evolved.

The White House has not indicated how long the current phase of operations may last, but Trump’s comments suggested the administration believes momentum is firmly on its side.

As the conflict intensifies, European leaders voiced alarm over the risk of a broader regional war. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, warned that the situation remains highly volatile following fresh exchanges of strikes between Iran and Israel.

“The risk of further escalation is real,” von der Leyen wrote in a post on X.

“This is why a credible transition in Iran is urgently needed, one that restores stability and paves the way for a lasting solution.”