US President Donald Trump has signalled a willingness to engage in talks with Iran's remaining leadership, following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli airstrikes. Speaking on Sunday, Trump said he was prepared to negotiate, despite ongoing violence that has spread across the region.
The airstrikes, which began on Saturday, targeted Iranian cities and military infrastructure. Iran responded with missile counterattacks, causing casualties and damage. On Monday, the conflict expanded to Lebanon as Israel struck Hezbollah targets after the group launched missiles and drones in retaliation for Khamenei's death.
Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, rejected any possibility of negotiations with the US, denying reports that Tehran had sought talks. Iranian Ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, reported hundreds of civilian casualties from the strikes, including an attack on a girls' school in Minab that killed 165 people.
The death toll among Iranian officials is high, with Trump claiming 48 leaders killed in the first two days. Israeli reports indicate 30 high-ranking officials were killed in the initial 30 seconds of the attack. The US also confirmed its first casualties, with three dead and five injured.
Global disruptions have followed, with oil prices rising after attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz. Major shipping companies have suspended operations in the region. Trump suggested the conflict could last another four weeks and vowed to avenge American deaths.
