President Donald Trump said Thursday it would be a "waste of time" currently to consider sending US ground troops into Iran, NBC News reported, dismissing the Iranian foreign minister's warning that such a move would spell disaster for invaders.
"It's a waste of time. They've lost everything. They've lost their navy. They've lost everything they can lose," he told NBC by telephone, adding that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's earlier remark that Iran was ready for a US or Israeli ground invasion was a "wasted comment."
Trump also indicated he is keen to see Iran's leadership structure removed and that "we want to go in and clean out everything" quickly.
"We don't want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period," he said. He added that he had ideas for a new leader but declined to name anyone.
Trump said earlier he would "have to be involved" in the appointment of Iran's next leader after US-Israeli strikes killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei when the conflict began on Saturday.
Heavy attacks were reported in Tehran on Friday after Israel said it was hitting "regime infrastructure" in a "new phase" of the war it launched with the US against Iran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Thursday said his government would soon take action to "reduce pressure on oil," after prices spiked due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
"Further action to reduce pressure on oil is imminent and the oil seems to have pretty much stabilized. We had it very low but I had to take this little detour if it's ok with everybody?" he said at a White House event, without specifying what the action would be.
He referenced having earlier taken "decisive action" by "offering political risk insurance for tankers transiting into the Gulf."
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas travel, has been badly impacted, sparking fears of shortages and sending prices soaring to levels not seen in nearly two years.
Brent crude, the main international contract, climbed 4.9 percent on Thursday, while WTI, the main US contract, rose 8.5 percent.
High gasoline prices are a key pain point for US political leaders, potentially fueling inflation that already has many households feeling the pinch.
Average US gasoline prices have risen about nine percent in the last week, according to the AAA gas prices gauge.
On Tuesday, Trump ordered the US Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance for all maritime trade through the Gulf. He said the US Navy would "if necessary" begin escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz "as soon as possible."