ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump on Monday said that the “big wave” of US strikes against Iran "is coming soon,” signaling a stronger military escalation amid the ongoing regional conflict.

“We haven’t even started hitting them hard. The big wave hasn’t even happened. The big one is coming soon,” Trump told CNN, asserting that the US is “knocking the crap” out of Iran.

The US and Israel on Saturday morning launched a large-scale military offensive across Iran. The strikes have killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in addition to several other top Iranian officials. 

The Iranian side responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones towards US bases across the region, killing at least four US personnel and leaving four seriously wounded, while causing heavy material damage and additional casualties in the countries hosting the bases.

Trump dubbed the Iranian strikes on Arab countries “the biggest surprise,” arguing they “were going to be very little involved and now they insist on being involved,” after their territories were violated.

Regarding the conflict's duration, the president noted that he does not wish for it to last “too long.”

“I always thought it would be four weeks. And we’re a little ahead of schedule.”

The escalation came after the two sides failed to reach a deal regarding Tehran’s nuclear program following several rounds of negotiations, with the US seeking a complete halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment and limits on its missile program. 

At the same time, Tehran refused to discuss the missile file and insisted on proceeding with its “peaceful” nuclear program.

“We couldn’t make a deal with these people,” Trump said.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said Iran’s new leadership “want to talk” and that he had agreed to hold discussions, a day after large-scale US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials.

However, Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani said Monday that Tehran will not negotiate with Washington, rejecting the president’s assertions.