Donald Trump issues tragic warning as president shares four-week Iran plan

Donald Trump has warned that there will likely be more US casualties amid America and Israel's current clash with Iran.

The commander-in-chief, 79, launched air strikes on the country in West Asia over the weekend, culminating in the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He was killed in his office on Saturday (28 February) morning 'while he was carrying out tasks', Iranian state TV claimed.

Trump announced the news in a Truth Social post, describing Khamenei as 'one of the most evil people in history' and calling on Iranians to 'take back their country'.

The chaos has resulted in global oil prices surging and financial markets faltering amid fears over the disruption the conflict could cause for energy supplies.

The US and Israel have been pounding targets in Iran, claiming to have fired at missile sites and its navy. The pair allege that the navy headquarters were destroyed along with multiple warships.

Iran and Iranian-backed militias have been firing missiles at Israel and Arab states in retaliation, while the nation vowed to carry out its 'most intense operation' ever after Khamenei was taken out.

He was the country's Supreme Leader since 1989.

Similarly, President Trump has promised that the US will 'avenge' the deaths of three American service members who were killed amid the fallout from Operation Epic Fury. Their identities have not yet been revealed.

Five others were 'seriously' injured in the attack, while 'several others sustained minor shrapnel injuries and concussion', the US Central Command said on Sunday (1 March).

Trump has since warned that more American deaths are a likely consequence of the battle with Iran, saying it could be a 'continuous' occurrence.

Speaking of the US victims and the potential of more bodies piling up, he told the Daily Mail: "They're great people. And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous - it could happen again."

He pointed out that previous US operations - such as the January capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and last year's bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities - did not cost any American lives.

"We've done pretty well," Trump said, while describing military personnel as 'great people, with outstanding records, outstanding'.

He also addressed the three deaths in a video shared on Sunday, saying the fallen were 'true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation'.

Trump told Americans: "We're undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children, just as our ancestors have done for us many, many years ago.

"This is the duty and the burden of a free people. These actions are right and they are necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons."

According to Trump, the US and Israel expect the back and forth with Iran to continue for at least the next month - and they apparently always foresaw it taking that amount of time.

The world leader told the publication: "It's always been a four-week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so.

"It's always been about a four-week process so - as strong as it is, it's a big country, it'll take four weeks - or less."

He said he thinks operations are 'going as planned' so far, adding: "We took out their entire leadership - far, far more than what we thought. Looks like 48."

Trump said he is open to getting around a table with Iran, but said of the potential talks: "I don't know. They want to talk, but I said, 'You should have talked last week, not this week'."