Trump says US struggling to negotiate with Iran as too many regime leaders killed in strikes

US President Donald Trump suggested on Monday that Washington may have gone “too far” in targeting Iran's leadership, acknowledging that killing senior Iranian officials had complicated efforts to identify figures with whom the United States could negotiate.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Youngstown, Ohio, Trump addressed the difficulties facing Washington as it seeks a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Tehran.

“We might have gone too far with the leaders because we don’t know who the hell we’re dealing with anymore,” Trump told supporters.

“Nobody wants to be the president of Iran,” he added, claiming that potential candidates were unwilling to assume the position.

At the rally, Trump also affirmed that as “the number one state sponsor of terror,” Iran would not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

Trump reiterates claims Iranian navy 'at the bottom of the sea'

Despite acknowledging the difficulties created by the campaign against Iran's leadership, Trump reiterated his claims that US military operations had effectively destroyed the country's air force and navy.

The president maintained that Iran had lost all 159 of its naval vessels, describing them as “resting beautifully in the bottom of the sea”.

The comments echoed concerns raised by US Vice President JD Vance, who said in an interview with Reuters that Washington remained uncertain about how decisions were being made within Iran's leadership. 

Vance stressed that any agreement ending the conflict would require Tehran to make meaningful reductions to its nuclear enrichment capacity.