US President Donald Trump said the United States could sustain military operations against Iran for “four to five weeks” if necessary and suggested that a “Venezuela” model of political transition might shape Tehran’s future after the conflict.

In a telephone interview with The New York Times, Trump expressed confidence in the durability of the ongoing campaign and pointed to what he described as a precedent in Latin America. Referring to developments in Venezuela, he said the “perfect scenario” involved removing only the top leader while keeping much of the existing state structure intact.

“What we did in Venezuela, I think, is the perfect scenario,” Trump said, adding that in such a model, most government officials would retain their roles except for senior leadership figures.

When asked how long US and Israeli forces could maintain the current pace of strikes, Trump replied: “Well, we intended four to five weeks.” He added that the United States possessed substantial ammunition stockpiles positioned globally, suggesting the operation would not be difficult to sustain.

Speaking roughly 36 hours into the latest escalation, Trump acknowledged the likelihood of casualties. “Three is three too many as far as I’m concerned,” he said, noting that projections indicated the toll could rise. “We expect casualties,” he added.

The President also claimed that joint US-Israeli strikes had significantly degraded Iran’s naval capacity, stating that nine ships and a navy headquarters had been hit. These claims have not been independently verified.

Trump’s remarks also touched on possible political outcomes in Iran. At one point, he suggested that elite forces within the country might eventually surrender to the public. He expressed hope that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could lay down their weapons.

Pressed on who could lead Iran following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump said he had “three very good choices” in mind but declined to reveal them. He also suggested that any broader regime change would ultimately depend on the Iranian people.

Trump said sanctions relief could be considered if new leadership demonstrated pragmatism, though he stopped short of committing US support to any potential uprising. He added that Gulf Arab states did not necessarily need to join Washington in military action.

The escalation comes amid deepening tensions over Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear programme, raising concerns about regional stability and the potential for a prolonged conflict.