In an eight-minute video address posted on social media, Donald Trump confirmed that the United States has launched a military campaign against Iran.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very tough, extremely bad people,” the U.S. president said. He added that the regime’s actions “directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies around the world.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2026
“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted ‘Death to America’ and waged an endless campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our forces, and innocent people in many, many countries,” Trump said.
He stressed that the U.S. military is conducting “a massive and sustained operation” to prevent what he called a radical dictatorship from threatening America and its core national security interests. “We will destroy their missiles and flatten their missile industry,” Trump said, adding that Iran had tried to rebuild its nuclear program after U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities in June. “They rejected every opportunity to abandon their nuclear ambitions, and we can no longer tolerate it.”
Trump sets regime change as a clear objective
Trump said the goal of the ongoing strikes is the overthrow of the Iranian regime and urged the Iranian people to seize the moment and take control of their government. Addressing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the armed forces, and the police, he said: “Lay down your weapons and enjoy full amnesty, or face certain death.”
“Lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with full amnesty, or you will face certain death,” Trump repeated. Turning to civilians, he said: “To the wonderful, proud people of Iran, I say tonight: your hour of freedom has arrived. Stay in shelters. Do not leave your homes. It is very dangerous outside. Bombs will be falling everywhere.”
“When we are finished, take control of your government. It will be yours. This may be your only chance for many generations,” he continued. “For many years, you asked America for help, but you never received it. Let’s see how you respond now. America supports you with overwhelming and devastating power. Now is the time to take control of your destiny and unlock the prosperous and glorious future that lies ahead. This is the moment to act. Do not let it pass.”
Trump acknowledged that American lives could be lost, saying the operation may cost the lives of U.S. service members. “The Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of brave American heroes may be lost, and we may suffer casualties—as often happens in war—but we are not doing this for the present. We are doing it for the future, and it is a noble mission,” he said, adding that the United States “has taken every possible measure to minimize the risk to American personnel in the region.”
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