Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 2: US President Donald Trump has said he is open to talks with Iran’s surviving leadership even as the conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Tehran deepens across the Middle East, The Guardian reported.
Trump’s remarks came after two days of intense airstrikes on Iranian cities and retaliatory missile attacks by Iran. The strikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior officials. According to media reports, dozens of high-ranking Iranian leaders were killed in the initial wave of attacks.
Speaking to The Atlantic and Fox News, Trump said Iran’s leaders ‘want to talk’ and that he had agreed to engage in discussions, though no timeline was disclosed. However, he warned that further American casualties could occur and vowed to respond strongly to any attacks on US forces.
The conflict has widened beyond Iran and Israel. Israel launched fresh strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after the group fired missiles and drones towards northern Israel. Nine Israelis have reportedly died in Iranian counter-strikes, while US forces confirmed three American fatalities and five injuries.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations told an emergency Security Council meeting that hundreds of civilians had been killed or injured in the US-Israeli attacks. Iranian state media reported heavy casualties, including more than 150 deaths in an attack on a school in the southern city of Minab.
The fighting has also disrupted the Gulf region. Missiles targeted areas near US bases in Gulf countries, and airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Kuwait were reportedly damaged, causing major aviation disruptions.
Global markets reacted sharply, with oil prices surging amid reported tanker attacks near the Strait of Hormuz. Major shipping companies have suspended navigation in the region, raising fears of prolonged economic fallout.
Despite the escalation, Trump maintained that the US economy remains strong and downplayed concerns about political consequences at home.