Trump rates Iran war '15 out of 10'

(Patria) - President Donald Trump rated US results in the war with Iran as 15 on a scale of 1 to 10, saying they are quickly killing the leaders of the Islamic Republic and promising to continue, reported AFP.

Trump's comments came as the conflict spread for the fifth day, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, and new explosions occurred across the Middle East.

"We are doing very well on the war front, to say the least. Someone said on a scale of 10, where would you rate it? I said about 15," Trump told a gathering of tech chiefs at the White House.

"We are in a very strong position now, and their leadership is quickly disappearing. Everyone who seems to want to be a leader ends up dead."

Trump added that Tehran's ballistic missile arsenal is being "rapidly destroyed."

He reiterated his justifications for the attack, saying Tehran was on the path to obtaining nuclear weapons.

"When crazy people have nuclear weapons, bad things happen," Trump added.

The US leader promised to "continue" the joint air campaign with Israel, which has already killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on the day the attacks began on Saturday.

The Trump administration has faced criticism after mixed messages about the reasons for the war, given that the previous Republican campaign boasted that it "would not start new wars."

Paying with blood

Trump has not yet presented his plan for what will happen after the war, nor has he said whether he wants a complete change in the Iranian government or will work with remnants who would cooperate with Washington.

Trump pursued a policy of cooperation with figures from the Venezuelan government after the United States overthrew Nicolas Maduro in January and reached an agreement on the extraction of Venezuelan oil.

The White House said on Wednesday that the Iranian clerical government has been "absolutely destroyed" and is "paying with blood," but refused to confirm that Trump wants a regime change in Tehran.

But Trump is "actively considering" the US role in Iran after the end of the US-Israeli operation against the country, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

"I think it's something the president is actively considering and discussing with his advisors and his national security team," Leavitt said at a briefing.

Leavitt also dismissed reports that Trump had agreed to arm a Kurdish separatist militia in Iran so they could rebel against the government as "false."

Leavitt confirmed that Trump had spoken with Kurdish leaders. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump is considering supporting Kurdish groups.

Leavitt said the US and Israel expect "complete and total dominance" over Iranian airspace in the "coming hours," echoing comments previously made by the Pentagon.