Trump comments on deceased Iranian officials following Israel’s strike: ‘They didn’t die of flu’

President Donald Trump shared some comments Friday morning regarding the recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Iranian commanders. This event comes after lengthy negotiations between the US and Iran, with the strikes targeting key aspects of Iran’s nuclear and missile framework. Among those killed were General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, and General Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian army’s chief of staff.

During a phone call with CNN’s Dana Bash, Trump was asked about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s response to the Israeli action. He expressed strong support for Israel’s actions, stating, “It was a very successful attack. Iran should have listened to me—I gave them a 60-day warning, and today marks the 61st day.” He urged Iran to seek negotiations before it’s too late.

“The people I was dealing with are dead,” he mentioned vaguely, referring to an unnamed figure, and Bash followed up by inquiring if this outcome was a direct result of the strikes. Trump affirmed the connection, adding a hint of irony regarding their cause of death.

Trump then indicated to Fox News that “Iranians were attacked 10 times worse than they thought,” expressing doubt about their readiness to negotiate but noting a possible change in stance due to these developments. A US official disclosed that Israel’s airstrikes were aimed at a significant number of Iranian nuclear scientists and military leaders, potentially affecting around 90% of the country’s top nuclear specialists.