In a dramatic late-night address, Donald Trump announced that the United States has launched what he described as “major combat operations” against Iran, marking a sharp and dangerous escalation in tensions across the Middle East.
Speaking after coordinated strikes involving U.S. forces and Israel, Trump said the campaign’s objective is to dismantle Iran’s military capabilities, eliminate what he called imminent threats, and ultimately bring about the collapse of the country’s ruling system.
A Broad Military Campaign
According to the president, the operation targets Iran’s naval assets, missile infrastructure and broader defense industry.
He vowed that missile production facilities would be “razed to the ground” and that the country’s navy would be “annihilated,” framing the offensive as both preventative and decisive.
Trump portrayed the action as necessary to stop Tehran from advancing its long-range missile program and reviving nuclear development efforts.
He reiterated his long-standing position that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon, calling that objective a “simple message” underpinning the campaign.
He referenced previous U.S. strikes on nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, claiming those operations had severely damaged Iran’s atomic ambitions.
However, he accused Iranian authorities of attempting to rebuild their capabilities in defiance of American warnings.
Historical Grievances
In his address, Trump revisited decades of hostility between Washington and Tehran.
He cited the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole.
He also accused Iranian-backed groups of killing American service members in Iraq and targeting U.S. forces and shipping routes in recent years.
The president described Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and blamed its regional proxy network for widespread instability stretching from Lebanon to Yemen.
He specifically accused Hamas of carrying out the October 7 attacks against Israel, asserting that Tehran bore responsibility through its support of the group.
Call for Regime Change
Going beyond military objectives, Trump openly encouraged Iranians to rise against their leaders.
Addressing members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard and other security forces, he offered what he called “complete immunity” if they laid down their weapons.
Those who resisted, he warned, would face lethal consequences.
He also appealed directly to civilians, urging them to remain indoors during the bombardment but to prepare to “take over” once the campaign concludes.
In his remarks, he described this moment as a rare opportunity for Iranians to reclaim their future and end the rule of the Islamic Republic.
Risks and Resolve
While acknowledging the possibility of American casualties, Trump framed the operation as a necessary sacrifice to secure long-term national safety.
He praised the strength and readiness of U.S. armed forces, asserting that no military rivals their power or sophistication.
Closing his speech with a prayer for deployed troops, Trump cast the offensive as both a defense of American security and a turning point for the Iranian people.
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The unfolding conflict signals one of the most significant military confrontations in the region in decades, with potentially far-reaching consequences for global stability.