US President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS on Monday that the war waged by the US and Israel against Iran is “almost over” and that Washington has “far exceeded” the initial estimated deadline of four to five weeks, AFP and Reuters write.
However, the White House leader did not provide details on any possible solution to end the conflict that is still wreaking havoc in the Middle East.
“I think the war (with Iran, no) is, for the most part, almost over. They (the Iranians, no) have no navy, no communications, no air force,” Trump told CBS News by phone, reiterating the assessments of war damage suffered by Tehran that he also mentioned last week.
NEW—In a phone interview, President Trump told me the war could be over soon: “I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they've got no Air Force.” He added that the US is “very far” ahead of his initial 4-5 week estimated time frame.
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 9, 2026
Trump also told the US television station that the United States is “way ahead” of the original estimated time frame for the duration of the conflict, which was four or five weeks.
Of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the ayatollah killed on the first day of the airstrikes, Trump said, according to CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang: “I have no message for him. Absolutely none.”
Asked about Iran's new Supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whom Trump has openly criticized, he said, “I have no message for him. None, whatever.” Trump said he has someone in mind to replace Khamenei, but he did not elaborate.
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 9, 2026
The US president added that he has someone in mind to replace Ali Khamenei, but gave no details.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Trump noted that ships currently pass through this vital sea route for 20 percent of global crude oil exports, but that he is “thinking about taking it over.”
Trump also warned Iran: “They've fired everything they've got to fire and they better not try anything nice or it's going to be the end of that country.”
The interview with Donald Trump has not yet been broadcast, and the American president's statements were quoted by journalist Weijia Jiang, in a series of posts on the X social network.
As for the Straight of Hormuz, Trump noted that ships are moving through now, but he is “thinking about taking it over.”
Trump warned Iran, “They've shot everything they have to shoot, and they better not try anything cute or it's going to be the end of that country.”
— Weijia Jiang (@weijia) March 9, 2026
Trump, “displeased” with the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as supreme leader of Iran
Earlier on Monday, the US president told the New York Post that he was “not happy” with the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran's supreme leader to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei.
“I am not satisfied,” said the American president, who is in Miami (in the southeast of the United States), where he will later participate in a conference with members of the Republican Party, AFP and Agerpres previously reported.
The US president's statements were made in the context of the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a low-key figure but among the most influential in the Islamic Republic, succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the Israeli-American offensive on Tehran.
The 56-year-old cleric, considered close to conservatives because of his ties to the Revolutionary Guards – the Islamic Republic's ideological army – was elected by the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 Shiite clerics.
Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran's Enghelab Square on Monday to show their loyalty to the new leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, chanting his name and carrying portraits and flags.
