Washington, March 2 (NationPress) President Donald Trump indicated that the US military could continue its offensive against Iran for “four to five weeks” if necessary. He proposed a “Venezuela” model, which involves ousting only the top leader while preserving much of the existing government, as a potential framework for a post-conflict scenario in Tehran.

In a concise phone interview with The New York Times, Trump expressed his optimism about maintaining the military campaign, citing what he views as a successful example from Latin America.

“What we accomplished in Venezuela is, in my opinion, the ideal scenario,” Trump remarked, highlighting a situation where only the head of state was removed, allowing the majority of the administration to remain operational.

“Everyone retained their positions except for two individuals,” he noted.

When questioned about the duration the United States and Israel could maintain the current level of military actions, Trump responded, “Well, we expect four to five weeks.”

“It won’t be challenging,” he continued. “We have vast supplies of ammunition. Our ammunition is stored globally in various countries.”

Approximately 36 hours into the conflict, Trump acknowledged the likelihood of additional American casualties.

“Three is already too many for me,” he stated. “If you look at projections, they indicate it could potentially be much higher.”

“We anticipate casualties,” he added. He also mentioned that joint strikes by the US and Israel had successfully “neutralized a significant portion” of the Iranian navy, including nine ships along with the navy's headquarters.

However, his views on how leadership might transition in Iran evolved throughout the discussion.

At one point, he suggested that Iran’s elite forces might surrender. “They would genuinely capitulate to the populace, if you consider it,” he expressed, hoping that hardened officers within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would hand over their weapons to the citizens.

When pressed about who should take charge in Iran following the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump revealed, “I have three excellent candidates.” He added, “I won’t disclose them now. Let’s first accomplish our goals.” He also proposed that it could be up to the Iranian people to overthrow the existing regime.

“That’s going to be their decision regarding whether or not they act,” he remarked. “They’ve been discussing it for years, so now they’ll have a clear opportunity.”

Trump stated that he might consider lifting sanctions if new leaders demonstrate pragmatism, but he refrained from committing to protecting Iranians if they rebelled.

“I don’t make commitments either way; it’s too premature,” he concluded. “We have tasks to complete, and we’re executing them effectively. I would say we’re well ahead of schedule.”

He also expressed skepticism about the necessity for Arab nations in the Persian Gulf to join the US in military actions against Iran.

This latest escalation occurs amid rising tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran concerning Tehran’s military capabilities and its long-standing nuclear ambitions.