US President Says Iran Leadership “Decimated,” Hints at Seizing Kharg Island Oil Assets

US President Donald Trump has described the targeted killing of Iran’s senior leadership as “truly regime change,” while expressing optimism that negotiations to end the ongoing war could conclude in the near future.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, Trump said the strikes that eliminated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous other high-ranking officials had effectively dismantled the previous power structure, leaving the US dealing with “different people” who he portrayed as more reasonable.

“The one regime was decimated, destroyed, they’re all dead. The next regime is mostly dead,” Trump said, adding that the current Iranian interlocutors had been “very reasonable” in talks so far.

Trump claimed Iran had already agreed to most of the key US demands in a 15-point proposal, including relinquishing its nuclear weapons programme and allowing oil tankers to resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz. He specifically noted that Tehran had permitted 20 ships to transit the strait as a goodwill gesture, with more expected to follow.

However, Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed any formal agreement, and Trump’s comments appeared to reflect his own assessment rather than a finalized accord.

The president left open the possibility of more aggressive military action, particularly regarding Iran’s oil infrastructure. He singled out Kharg Island – the critical export terminal responsible for the majority of Iran’s oil shipments – saying the US had “a lot of options,” including taking control of the island if necessary.

Trump suggested such an operation could be carried out “very easily” but acknowledged it might require a prolonged US presence. He also warned that Washington could shut down the Strait of Hormuz “in two minutes” if Iran failed to cooperate.

Trump reiterated that Mojtaba Khamenei, the designated successor to his father, remains largely out of public view and is believed to have been seriously wounded in the early stages of the conflict.

US negotiators have reportedly been engaging with Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, whom Trump described as the figure who authorised the recent tanker movements through the strait. Ghalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guard commander, is widely seen as maintaining a hardline position despite the current crisis.

Trump’s remarks came as Asian stock markets opened lower on Monday, with investors bracing for a potentially prolonged conflict that has already driven oil prices sharply higher. Brent crude futures continued their upward trajectory, reflecting ongoing concerns about disruptions to global energy supplies.

The comments also highlight the delicate balance the US is attempting to strike between diplomatic engagement and maintaining military pressure on Iran and its proxies.

As the war enters its fifth week, the coming days will test whether Trump’s expressed optimism about a swift resolution translates into concrete progress or whether the conflict risks becoming more entrenched.