President Donald Trump confirmed the U.S. military began “major combat operations in Iran” in a video posted on his social media platform early Saturday morning.
“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran,” he said in a pre-recorded video message. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
“It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon,” he added.
Trump directly addressed the people of Iran, declaring, “The hour of your freedom is at hand.” He urged the citizens to “take over your government” once the strikes concluded.
“Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” Trump warned.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said. “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.”
“America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump said. “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.”
Trump vowed certain death in a message to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and police in Iran.
“I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or in the alternative, face certain death,” he said. “Lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”
Trump said the U.S. won’t allow Iran to have a nuclear program.
Trump cited Operation Midnight Hammer in June when U.S. strikes attacked Iran’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
“After that attack 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,” he said.
Trump said Iran’s refusal to give up the nuclear program is the reason the U.S. has “undertaken a massive and ongoing operation.”
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally again, obliterated. We are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces,” he continued.
