US President Donald Trump told The New York Times on Sunday that he has a short list of three names he considers suitable to lead Iran. He described them as 'very good choices' but declined to reveal their identities, saying he would not disclose the names until the process was complete.

The statement followed a joint US-Israel military operation launched on Saturday morning that reportedly led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials. Trump claimed that the attack killed 48 top Iranian leaders. The developments mark a major escalation in tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Further details about the potential leadership transition in Iran or the next steps in US policy were not disclosed in the report.