President Donald Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The U.S. and Israel launched the joint attack just after 9 a.m. local time in what the War Department has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
In video remarks posted to social media, Trump addressed the Iranian people directly and told them to “seize control of [their] destiny.”
“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,” Trump said. “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.”
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“America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump directed at Iranians. “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 honed a portion of his message on empowering the people of Iran, but he also claimed the operation’s intent is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” which he described as “vicious” and “very hard, terrible people.”
The president noted that while there there could be American casualties, the mission is “noble” as it is aimed at stopping a “wicked, radical dictatorship” from threatening U.S. national security interests while also destabilizing the entire Middle East.
“I do not make this statement lightly; the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” he said. “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing it for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
Trump highlighted unsuccessful efforts to negotiate with Iran, accusing Tehran of advancing its nuclear program and labeling it “the world’s number-one state sponsor of terror.”
“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 said.
Trump revealed a couple of objectives in the operation, which include destroying Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure and its navy.
“It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces,” Trump said.
He also urged members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s armed forces, and police to lay down their weapons and accept immunity or “face certain death.”
The operation, which was launched jointly with Israel, came just hours after Trump told reporters he was “not happy” with how negotiations were going with the Iranian regime.
The two countries had been engaged in indirect talks, and on February 19, Trump set a deadline of approximately 10 to 15 days for Iran to reach an agreement. During his State of the Union address, he emphasized that his efforts to secure a deal were backed by the threat of force.
Trump has repeatedly warned that there would be severe consequences for the Iranian regime if the negotiations ultimately failed.
“It’s been mass terror, and we are not going to put up with it any longer,” Trump said.