President Donald Trump waves after arriving on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/JMark Schiefelbein)US President Donald Trump said the conflict with Iran could continue for up to four weeks and warned that there were likely to be more American casualties as military operations progress.
In a video address posted to Truth Social from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said combat operations were continuing “in full force” and would not stop until “all of our objectives are achieved.”
President Donald J. Trump on US military combat operations in Iran: pic.twitter.com/LimJmpLkgZ
– The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2026
“As a nation, we mourn the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “And, unfortunately, there will probably be more before it’s over. That’s just the way it is.”
US Central Command previously confirmed that three US service members were killed during Operation Epic Fury, the joint US-Israeli campaign against Iranian military sites. Authorities did not specify where the deaths occurred.
“We will do everything we can when that is not the case, but the United States will avenge their deaths,” Trump added.
He said the campaign could last “about four weeks”, adding: “Combat operations are continuing at this time in full force and will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.”
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Trump also said US and allied forces had attacked hundreds of targets in Iran.including Revolutionary Guard facilities, air defense systems and naval assets. He confirmed that Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a recent missile attack.
“The former Supreme Leader of Iran… is dead,” Trump said, adding that parts of Iran’s military leadership had been eliminated.
Tehran rejects talks
Even though Trump said he remains open to talks with the new Iranian leadership, a senior Iranian security official said Monday that Iran “will not negotiate with the United States.”
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—Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 2, 2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said the country’s military capabilities remain intact.
talking to ABC News“Nothing has changed,” he said, adding that commanders killed in previous attacks had been quickly replaced.
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The latest comments signal a widening gap between Washington’s call for talks and Tehran’s public rejection of talks as fighting continues.
