President Donald Trump has dismissed threats from Iran’s top national security official, Ali Larijani, while reiterating his demand for an “unconditional surrender” from Tehran.
In a phone interview with CBS News late Saturday evening, the U.S. President pushed back against warnings from Larijani, who had posted on social media that Trump must “pay the price” for U.S.-Israeli strikes. Larijani has emerged as a high-profile leader following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.
“I have no idea what he’s talking about, who he is. I couldn’t care less,” Mr. Trump told CBS News, adding that Larijani and other Iranian leaders are “weak and increasingly diminished.”
“The Navy is gone”
Mr. Trump expressed absolute confidence in the military campaign, claiming the U.S. has successfully decimated Iran’s military infrastructure in just six days.
“The navy is gone, it’s at the bottom of the sea. Forty-two ships, 42, in six days,” Trump said. According to U.S. Central Command, at least 43 Iranian ships have been damaged or destroyed, with over 3,000 targets struck since the war began. Trump added that Iranian missile and drone factories are “being blown up as we speak.”
Rebuking the UK and Starmer
The President also addressed the role of U.S. allies, specifically targeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Earlier on Saturday, Trump noted on Truth Social that the U.K. had readied two aircraft carriers for deployment, a move he characterized as unnecessary and “a little bit late.”
The comments highlight ongoing friction over Starmer’s perceived delay in granting permission for the U.S. to use British bases for the strikes. “The loyal ones are already in,” Trump said when asked if he wanted more from allies. “They can do whatever they want.”
Iranian leadership in flux
The war of words underscores a period of extreme uncertainty within the Iranian regime. While Larijani remains a key voice, an interim three-person council—including President Masoud Pezeshkian—is currently governing.
Pezeshkian recently backtracked on a video apology to Iran’s neighbors, later clarifying on social media that Iran had targeted U.S. military installations and had not surrendered its regional ambitions. Trump, however, claimed Pezeshkian had already “conceded and surrendered” to neighboring countries because of U.S. pressure.
Information taken from CBS
