Trump says US 'terminated' Iranian general but doesn't seek regime change

President Donald Trump on Friday said top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was "terminated" when he was on the verge of attacking US diplomats but he insisted that Washington is not seeking to topple Iran's government.

"Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him," Trump said in a statement before television cameras in Florida.

Read: MEA Urges 'restraint & Calm' Over Assassination Of Iran's Top Commander Soleimani By US

Read: Esmail Ghaani To Succeed Qassem Soleimani As Iran's Top Commander

While referring to the Iranian military mastermind, killed in a US air attack earlier Friday in Baghdad, as "sick," Trump attempted to lower tensions by insisting that he does not want war with Iran.

"We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war," he said, adding: "We do not seek regime change."

Read: 'Iran Never Won A War', Says Donald Trump After Soleimani Killing

Read: Israel PM Backs Trump Over Soleimani Killing, Says 'US Has The Right Of Self-defense'