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President Trump defended the war with Iran as the US launched retaliatory strikes on Tehran for the deaths of two American service members in a call with The Post on Saturday, saying the troops made the ultimate sacrifice to prevent the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon - and warned the region could descend into wider conflict if Tehran isn't stopped.

Speaking about an hour into the latest US bombing campaign, Trump called the deaths  a shame  but argued the mission remains critical.

 They did it because they don't want to see Iran have a nuclear weapon,  Trump said of the troops.  … And it just shows you how bad [the Iranians] are. 

5 The United States military launched a new wave of airstrikes against Tehran Saturday. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Two service members were killed, one is missing, and at least four were injured during an attack on Muwawffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on Friday.

When asked whether he planned to contact the families of the two service members, Trump responded without hesitation.

 Of course I will. I always do. Yeah. 

The US military at 6 p.m. on Saturday launched a new wave of airstrikes against Tehran and were reportedly rushing warplanes to the Middle East.

The airstrikes were designed to further degrade the regime's ability to  threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,  US Central Command said in a statement.

5 The US is sending more warplanes to the Middle East after Iran attacked and killed two American service members in Jordan. SEPAHNEWS.COM/AFP via Getty Images

CENTCOM also said the attacks on Tehran were intended to swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Earlier Saturday, Trump told NewsNation that he  couldn't care less  that Iran announced they had exited the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, adding that the troops died  in service to their country. 

Following that, the Pentagon deployed additional warplanes toward the Gulf region, according to the Wall Street Journal.

5 President Trump confirmed the deaths of the soldiers and told reporters 

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