United States President Donald Trump has said he feels honoured by the killing of top Iranian military figures amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.

In a message shared on social media early Friday, Trump referred to Iran’s leadership as “deranged scumbags,” accusing them of being responsible for violence against innocent people around the world for nearly five decades.

The US president said several senior Iranian figures, including the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, had been killed since the war began on February 28 following coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel.

Trump rejected media reports questioning the progress of the military campaign, insisting that Iranian forces were suffering major setbacks.

According to him, Iran’s military structure has been heavily weakened, with many of its leaders eliminated. He also stated that the United States has superior firepower and enough resources to continue the operation.

Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces were preparing to carry out their most intense wave of airstrikes since the conflict started.

Speaking during a press briefing, Hegseth said the number of strikes planned for Friday would be the highest so far, targeting several locations across Iran, including the capital, Tehran.

The escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran has heightened global concerns about the possibility of wider instability in the region.