US President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his "Truth Social" platform that the US has begun “large-scale combat operations in Iran“. He claimed that Iran had continued to develop its nuclear program and planned to develop missiles capable of reaching the United States, and called on the Iranian people to “take control of their government“, BTA reports.
The AP published the text of Trump's full statement:
“The US armed forces have just begun large-scale combat operations in Iran. Our goal is to protect the American people by eliminating the immediate threat posed by the Iranian regime - a sinister group of very cruel, terrible people. Their menacing actions directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases abroad, and our allies around the world.
For the past 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted "Death to America" and waged an endless campaign of bloodshed and mass murder against the United States, our troops, and innocent people in many countries. Among the regime's first actions was the violent seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of Americans hostage for 444 days. In 1983, Iranian proxies bombed a Marine Corps base in Beirut, killing 241 American service members.
In 2000, they (the Iranians) knew about and likely participated in the attack on the USS Cole, which killed many. Iranian forces have killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued to carry out countless attacks on American forces in the Middle East, as well as on American military and commercial ships and international shipping lines. This was mass terror, and we will no longer tolerate it.
From Lebanon to Yemen and from Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias that have covered the land in blood and atrocities. Iran's proxy Hamas carried out the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7, killing over 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, and taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, the likes of which the world has never seen.
Iran is the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism and has recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens in the streets as they protested. The policy of the United States, especially my administration, has always been that this terrorist regime should never have nuclear weapons. I will say it again: they can never have nuclear weapons. That is why last June, in Operation Midnight Hammer, we destroyed the regime's nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious nuclear ambitions, and we tried repeatedly to make a deal. They wanted to. Then they didn't. Then they wanted to again. They didn't. They simply wanted to do evil. But Iran refused, as it has for decades.
They have rejected every opportunity to give up their nuclear ambitions, and we can no longer tolerate that. Instead, they have sought to rebuild their nuclear program and continue the development of long-range missiles that can now threaten our good friends and allies in Europe, our troops abroad, and soon reach the American homeland. Imagine how embittered this regime would be if it ever possessed nuclear weapons and could use them.
For these reasons, the United States military is conducting a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very evil, radical dictatorial regime from threatening the United States and our core national interests. We will destroy their missiles and completely destroy their missile industry. We will destroy their navy. We will ensure that the region’s terrorist proxies will no longer destabilize the world or the region and attack our forces, and that they will no longer use improvised explosive devices to injure and kill thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. This is the very simple message: they will never have nuclear weapons.
This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the might of the United States military. I built and strengthened our military in my first administration, and there is no military force on earth even close in power, strength, or sophistication to ours. My administration is taking every step possible to minimize the risk to American personnel in the region.
Yet, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime wants to kill. The lives of brave American heroes may be lost, and there may be casualties. That often happens in war. But we do this not for the present, but for the future. This is a noble mission. We pray for every service member who selflessly risks his or her life to ensure that Americans and our children are never threatened by a nuclear Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in peril, and we trust that with His help the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. Our forces are the greatest in the world and they will win.
To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the armed forces, and all the police, I say: lay down your weapons and you will have complete immunity. Or else, you will face certain death. So, lay down your weapons. You will be treated fairly with complete immunity, or you will face certain death.
Finally, to the great and proud people of Iran, I say: the hour of your freedom has come. Stay safe. Don't go out. It is very dangerous outside. Bombs will fall everywhere. When we are finished, take control of your government. It will be yours to take. This will probably be your only chance for generations.
For many years, you have begged for America's help. But you have never received it. No president has been willing to do what I am doing now. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want. Let's see how you react. America stands with you with immense strength and destructive power. Now is the time to take control of your destiny and unlock the prosperous and glorious future that is at hand. This is the moment to act. Don't miss it.
God bless the brave men and women of the American armed forces. God bless the United States. God bless you all. Thank you.