"We assumed it would take four weeks or so. No matter how strong our effort is, Iran is a big country; it's going to take four weeks," Trump continues.
He says he is not surprised by how the attacks have hit Iran so far.
"No, I think it's going as planned. We've hit their entire leadership, much, much more than we thought," he says, repeating earlier reports that 48 "Iranian leaders" have been killed.
In a speech published on Truth Social, he calls on the Iranian people to rise up against the regime.
I urge all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment, to be brave. Be brave, be heroic, and take back your country. The United States stands with you.
Trump also comments to the Daily Mail and American NBC News about the three American soldiers who were killed during the operation. He says that "We expected it to happen, unfortunately."
"Now we have three, but we expected losses; ultimately it will be a good thing for the world," he told NBC.
