US President Donald Trump has announced the commencement of what he described as “major combat operations” against Iran, declaring that the United States military had moved to neutralise what he called “imminent threats” posed by the Iranian regime.
In a video address shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the operation was aimed at defending American lives, interests and allies, while preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“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.”
The former president accused Iran of decades-long hostility toward the United States, alleging that its actions had endangered American troops, overseas bases and global allies.
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted ‘Death to America’ and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder,” he said, referencing past attacks on U.S. assets and personnel, including the 1979 hostage crisis and the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut.
Trump further claimed that Iranian-backed proxy groups had continued to target U.S. forces and international shipping across the Middle East, describing the situation as “mass terror.”
“It’s been mass terror, and we’re not going to put up with it any longer,” he declared. “From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias.”
He also linked Iran to Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which he said killed more than 1,000 people, including dozens of Americans.
Reiterating a long-standing U.S. position, Trump insisted that Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
“This terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again — can never have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
Trump claimed that a previous U.S. operation, which he referred to as “Operation Midnight Hammer,” had destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, but alleged that Tehran later attempted to rebuild its nuclear and missile programmes.
For that reason, he said, the new military campaign would be expansive.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” Trump stated. “We are going to annihilate their Navy.”
While acknowledging the risks involved, Trump warned that American casualties were possible but described the mission as necessary and “noble.”
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war,” he said. “But we’re doing this for the future.”
In a direct message to Iranian security forces, Trump urged them to lay down their arms, offering what he described as “total immunity,” while warning of “certain death” if they resisted.
He also addressed Iranian civilians, urging them to stay indoors as military operations continued.
“Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside,” he warned. “When we are finished, take over your government.”
Trump concluded by calling on Iranians to seize what he described as a historic opportunity for change, pledging U.S. backing.
“This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass,” he said. “May God bless the United States of America.”
