'Great day for the world': After Khamenei's death, Trump says diplomacy with Iran 'much easier now'

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said that the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could create a pathway to diplomacy.While talking to CBS News, Trump expressed confidence in the results so far, calling the joint airstrikes by US and Israel "a great day for this country, a great day for the world.""Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously," Trump said, when asked about the prospect of a diplomatic solution to the crisis during a phone interview. "Because they are getting beat up badly."After the attacks, Trump spoke to officials and world leaders throughout the day. He also said that he is continuously continues to closely monitor the Iranian response in the region to the strike.After the retaliatory strikes from Iran, Trump said that "It's what we expected."

He, however, said that the response so far are less than what the US and its allies anticipated."We thought it'd be double," he said, though he added that the situation remains fluid. "Thus far, it's been less than we thought," Trump told CBS.There have been no reports of US deaths or injuries amid the operation in Iran, US Central Command said. In Israel, one person was killed in the retaliatory strikes and dozens were injured.

The United States launched nearly 900 strikes within the first 12 hours of a joint operation with Israel.Dubbed Operation Epic Fury, the assault began at around 9:30am local time in Tehran and involved coordinated attacks from land, air and sea.An unnamed US official told Fox News that the strikes were carried out while American forces simultaneously defended against hundreds of incoming Iranian ballistic missiles.Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Bahrain said a missile targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, though the US official claimed the strikes hit “empty warehouses” and did not affect operational aims.Kuwait reported a drone strike on its main international airport, injuring several employees, while shrapnel wounded troops at Ali Al-Salem air base.

Explosions were also reported in Qatar, and Jordan said it intercepted dozens of drones and ballistic missiles. Saudi Arabia said it repelled attacks targeting Riyadh and its eastern region.Inside Israel, the military said “dozens” of Iranian missiles were fired, many intercepted. Emergency service Magen David Adom reported 89 people lightly injured.In an eight-minute video posted online, Trump framed the operation as part of a broader confrontation with Iran’s leadership dating back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution.“When we are finished, take over your government,” he said. “It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”