PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump said Sunday that American soldiers dying during strikes on Iran was to be expected in a war that was nevertheless a “great deal” for the world.

The American commander-in-chief, who conducted a series of interviews about the attack on the Islamic republic as he spent the day at his Florida resort, also said he expected the military operation to last roughly four weeks.

“We have three, but we expect casualties, but in the end it’s going to be a great deal for the world,” Trump told NBC News after the Pentagon announced three unidentified US service members had been killed and five others seriously wounded during military strikes on Iran.

Five hours after the deaths were first announced by US Central Command on Sunday morning, Trump or the White House had yet to make a public statement about the casualties.

He addressed the deaths with the Daily Mail, describing those who died as “great people”.

“And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous — it could happen again,” he said according to the British newspaper.

In his call with NBC, Trump said the operation, which has killed Iran’s supreme leader and dozens of other top government and military figures, was “ahead of schedule”.

He added that Iranian and US officials “are talking”, although he did not provide details.

Trump offered conflicting remarks about such discussions, however, telling the Daily Mail: “They want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week.”

He also told the paper that he expects a four-week military operation against Iran.

“We figured it will be four weeks or so,” he said. “As strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks — or less.”