President Donald Trump dismissed worries that the conflict in Iran might evolve into a drawn-out situation similar to the issues faced during the Bush administration.

During a phone conversation on Thursday with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, Trump was questioned about future plans.

“Forget about next,” Trump responded confidently. “They are reduced to nothing for a decade before they can rebuild.”

He informed Karl that 58% of Iran’s missile launchers have been destroyed.

Throughout the call, Trump expressed amazement at the effectiveness of the military action in Iran to date.

“I hope you are impressed,” he remarked to Karl, who has chronicled numerous discussions with Trump in his book, “Retribution,” published last autumn.

‘How do you like the performance? I mean, Venezuela is obvious. This might be even better. How do you like the performance?’ the President also asked the journalist. 

At a CENTCOM briefing Thursday, the commander shared that over the past 72 hours, the US struck nearly 200 Iranian targets, including around Tehran, and B-2 bombers used penetrator bombs to take out Iranian ballistic missile launchers.

President Donald Trump said in a phone interview Thursday ‘forget about next’ when speaking about the Iran war. ‘They are decimated for a 10-year period before they could build it back,’ he said. Trump later hosted the Inter Miami CF in the East Room (pictured) 

Shop owners in Tehran, Iran, clean up the rubble caused by a missile explosion that was struck heavily by Israel. President Donald Trump marveled over the success of the military operation in Iran thus far during a phone interview with ABC News Thursday

Trump ran for office in 2024 by promising to keep the United States out of ‘forever wars’ and often cited President Joe Biden’s messy pullout from Afghanistan as the reason Russian leader Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine. 

But since returning to office last January, Trump bombed a trio of Iranian nuclear sites, captured Venezuela’s dictator Nicolas Maduro, and, most recently, approved of Operation Epic Fury in Iran. 

The most recent military action has the greatest chance of ensnaring the United States into a long-term conflict, despite Trump telling the Daily Mail in a Sunday phone interview that he anticipated it to only last ‘four weeks.’ 

On Monday, from the East Room, he estimated the conflict would go on for four to five weeks. 

Asked today about a timeline, Trump told ABC: ‘Well, there are many people who say it’s already over. It’s not over for me. It’s over when I want it to be.’ 

The President added that he wanted Iran to have a US-approved leader.

‘We don’t want them to put anybody in there unless it is approved by us,’ Trump said. ‘We don’t want some [US] President in 10 years get stuck with this problem and not know what to do with it.’ 

In a separate interview Thursday with Axios, Trump said Iran’s replacement for the deceased Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike Saturday, would most likely be Khamenei’s son Mojtaba. 

Plumes of smoke are seen rising over a section of Tehran, Iran, on Thursday. The United States and Israel started joint strikes of Iran on Saturday morning that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 

In Tehran, Iran the Diplomatic Police Center was left in rubble by US and Israeli strikes that started on Saturday. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Iranians still want to negotiate with the US 

That choice would be ‘unacceptable’ to him. 

‘They are wasting their time. Khamenei’s son is a lightweight. I have to be involved in the appointment, like with Delcy in Venezuela,’ Trumps said. 

Delcy Rodríguez was Maduro’s No. 2, with the US leaving her in charge of the country post-Maduro’s January ouster. 

During his event Thursday afternoon, hosting the Inter Miami CF soccer team, Trump claimed that the Iranians still want another round of talks.

‘They’re calling, they’re saying, “How do we make a deal?”‘ Trump said. ‘I said, “You’re being a little bit late,” and we want to fight now more than they do.’ 

 In the meantime, the war has spilled over to Middle Eastern neighbors. 

Most recently, the United Arab Emirates confirmed that the cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, continue to be targeted, with video footage showing smoke billowing from Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina.