U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 1st (local time) that the military operation against Iran, "Epic Fury," is "ahead of schedule."
Trump said in an interview with CNBC that "the operation is going very well." This is seen as an assessment that the operation's results are emerging earlier than expected, with the United States and Israel's concentrated airstrikes eliminating key members of Iran's leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, 86.
Regarding Iran, Trump said, "It is a very violent regime. One of the most violent regimes in history," and added, "We are carrying out our mission not only for ourselves but for the world." He also said the operation is "moving in a very positive direction," and noted that a potential off-ramp to end the operation depends on various factors.
In an interview with the U.K.'s Daily Mail, he said of the attack on Iran, "It was always a four-week process. We expected it to be about four weeks," adding, "It's a big country, so about four weeks, or it could be shorter."
In a Fox News interview, Trump said, "Things are moving quickly," and assessed, "No one will believe the success we are having. With a single strike, 48 Iranian leaders disappeared."
Trump also expressed willingness to talk with Iran. In a phone interview with the U.S. current affairs weekly the Atlantic, he said, "They want to talk, and I agreed to talk. So I will talk with them."