In an interview with CBS News, US President Donald Trump said Washington has now reached a more powerful position in reaching a diplomatic solution with Iran after the recent military strikes.
“Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously,” Trump said, adding that the change in stance was evident “because they are getting beat up bad.”
Trump also talked about Iran’s retaliatory attacks on US bases that the response had been more limited than expected.
“We thought it’d be double,” he said, seeming to note how American officials had expected a harsher reaction from Tehran.
Meanwhile, the Iranian state media reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the US strikes.
According to the reports, Khamenei “was carrying out his assigned duties and was present at his workplace (his office)” when the attack took place.
State media said the strike was a “cowardly attack” in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Prior to the confirmation by the state media, President Trump had also said that Khamenei was killed in the strikes.
Following the announcement a period of public mourning intended to last for 40 days in Iran has been declared according to official reports.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement in mourning of Khamenei’s death.
“We have lost a great leader, we are mourning him,” the statement said. It declared him unique in purity of spirit, strength of faith and resourcefulness and courage in facing adversaries.
In a separate statement, carried by Fars news agency, the IRGC said “Khamenei’s martyrdom at the hands of the most vicious terrorists and executioners of humanity is a sign of the legitimacy of this great leader and the acceptance of his sincere services.”
The IRGC also warned that the “Iranian nation’s hand of revenge” would not “let them go” and said it would stand firm in fighting what it called conspiracies both of domestic and foreign nature.
Also read: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei martyred in US strike: Iranian state media report
