Trump said the strikes were aimed at defending Americans and military personnel from the “imminent threats” posed by the Iranian regime.
'US begins military ops in Iran to eliminate imminent threats': Trump warns Iranian regime to lay down arms or face death
US President Donald Trump today announced that the United States military has launched major combat operations in Iran. Speaking to the press, Trump said the strikes were aimed at defending American citizens and military personnel from the “imminent threats” posed by the Iranian regime.
“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran,” Trump said. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.”
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— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026
The US President further warned the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police to lay down weapons and have complete immunity, or, in the alternative, face certain death.
He added, “Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want. So let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force…”
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, “… To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or, in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your… pic.twitter.com/2QejC7UT6J
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2026
Calling Iran the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. He stated that it has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. He reiterated that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.
Trump said, “We warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. Again, they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades. They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could soon reach the American homeland…”
Stating the above as the trigger points, Trump said that the United States military decided to undertake a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and its core national security interests. He said, “We’re going to annihilate their Navy. We’re going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the region or the world…”
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, “Iran is the world’s number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration,… pic.twitter.com/4d6wO56HqP
— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2026
This announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, following a series of attacks and countermeasures between the United States, Israel, and Iran in recent weeks.
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