President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that U.S. military forces had sunk nine Iranian Navy ships and “largely destroyed” their naval headquarters.
Operation Epic Fury commenced Saturday when the United States and Israel bombed Iran in a joint attack, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and many other top Iranian officials.
“I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
THREE US SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST IRAN, CENTCOM SAYS
Prior to his announcement, Trump told the Atlantic on Sunday that he and Iran’s new leadership have agreed to hold talks, although the president noted talks are long overdue.
The president said he and Iran have not set a date and time, as many of the leaders who participated in previous talks are now dead.
After the initial attack in Tehran, Trump said U.S. forces in the Middle East would enact a “massive and ongoing operation” to weaken Iran and destroy imminent threats to America.
Israeli participation in the operation focused on killing Khamenei, while the U.S. focused on Iran’s defense industry, with the now-sunken navy ships signifying the U.S.’s commitment to eliminating any defense threat posed by the country.
TRUMP AGREES TO TALK WITH IRAN’S NEW LEADERSHIP AS REGIONAL WAR WIDENS
While Trump has agreed to future talks, it is unclear which Iranian officials will participate, as a new leader has not been appointed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that new leadership could be selected within the next few days, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the leadership transition process is already underway.
