Trump says Iran campaign to last four weeks, hints at Saudi involvement

2026-03-02 - 00:12

US President Donald Trump stated Sunday that the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran is projected to last around four weeks, providing the first timeline for an operation that has already decapitated Tehran's leadership. "It's always been a four-week process," Trump told the Daily Mail, adding, "As strong as it is, it's a big country, it'll take four weeks — or less." The president expressed satisfaction with the campaign's progress, noting that the elimination of Iranian leaders had exceeded initial expectations. Campaign exceeds expectations Trump revealed that 48 Iranian leaders have been eliminated so far, a figure significantly higher than previously estimated. "I think it's going as per planned, other than we took out their entire leadership, far, far more than what we thought," he said. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that in the opening 24 hours since Saturday's attacks, US forces struck Iranian command centers, ballistic missile sites, naval vessels and air defense systems using B-2 stealth bombers, fighter jets, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers. Three US service members have been killed and five seriously wounded since operations commenced. Saudi Arabia's role questioned Regarding potential Saudi participation, Trump suggested the Kingdom is already engaged in the conflict. "They're fighting, they're fighting too," he asserted, though Riyadh has issued no public statements confirming involvement. A CNN reporter in a since-deleted video claimed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had authorized striking back at Iran if necessary, accusing Tehran of targeting Saudi Arabia despite strikes not using Saudi airspace. The absence of official Saudi confirmation leaves the extent of Gulf cooperation unclear. Future of Iran contemplated Trump expressed optimism about post-conflict developments in Iran, suggesting democratic transformation could emerge. "A lot of very positive things could happen," he said. The remarks come as Iran continues retaliatory drone and missile strikes targeting Gulf countries, with the UAE and Bahrain reporting successful interceptions of hundreds of projectiles. The four-week timeline projected by Trump suggests the region faces prolonged instability as the US-Israeli campaign proceeds and Tehran's leadership grapples with the loss of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior commanders.