Read President Trump’s full statement on Iran

US President Donald Trump said in an 8-minute video posted on his Truth Social that the US had launched “major combat operations in Iran”. Iran continues to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles capable of reaching the US and appealed to the Iranian people to “take over your government”.

Here is Trump’s full address:

Not long ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our mission is to protect the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. Very tough, horrible bunch of people. Its threatening activities directly threaten the United States, our forces, our bases overseas, and our allies around the world.

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 countries. Among the administration’s first acts was supporting the violent takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iranian proxies bombed a Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 American military personnel.

In 2000, he was aware of and possibly involved in the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s proxies have continued countless attacks in recent years against American forces stationed in the Middle East, as well as US naval and commercial vessels and international shipping lanes. This is mass terrorism, and we are not going to tolerate it anymore.

From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, regimes have armed, trained and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the land in blood and guts. And Iran’s proxy, Hamas, launched a monstrous October 7 attack on Israel, killing more than 1,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage. It was brutal, the likes of which the world had never seen before.

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. It is the policy of the United States, particularly my administration, that this terrorist regime can never possess a nuclear weapon. I say again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. That’s why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we wiped out the regime’s nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we tried repeatedly to broker a deal. We tried. He wanted to do it. He didn’t want to do it. Again he wanted to do it. He didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was happening. He just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused for decades and decades.

They have rejected every opportunity to abandon their nuclear ambitions and we can’t take it anymore. Instead, they sought to rebuild their nuclear program and continue to develop long-range missiles that threaten our best friends and allies in Europe, our forces stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland. Imagine how bold this administration would be if they ever had and were actually armed with nuclear weapons as a means of delivering their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to stop this most evil, radical dictatorship that threatens America and our vital national security interests. We will destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It is completely destroyed again. We are going to destroy their fleet. We’re going to make sure that terrorist proxies in the region no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our troops and no longer use their IEDs, or roadside bombs as they’re sometimes called, to seriously injure and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans. And we will make sure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

This administration will soon learn that no one can challenge the strength and power of the United States Armed Forces. In my first administration I built and rebuilt our military and there is no other military on earth that comes close to its strength, power or sophistication. My administration is taking all possible steps to reduce the risk to US personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. Brave American heroes may lose their lives and we may have casualties. This often happens in war. But that’s not what we’re doing right now. We are doing this for the future. And it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly put their lives on the line to ensure that Americans and our children are never threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all our heroes from harm. And with their help we believe the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have greats in the world and they will prevail.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all the police, I say tonight, you must lay down your arms and have absolute immunity. Or alternatively, face certain death. So, put your arms down. You will be treated fairly with complete immunity, or you will face certain death. Finally, to the great proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is near. stay sheltered Don’t leave your house. It is very dangerous outside. Bombs fall everywhere. When we are done, take your government. It will be yours for the taking. This is probably your only chance in a generation.

Over the years you have asked for America’s help. But you never got it. No president is willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who gives you what you want. So let’s see how you react. America is backing you with overwhelming power and destructive power. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and unleash the rich and magnificent future within your reach. This is the moment of action. Don’t let it pass you by.

God bless the brave men and women of America’s armed forces. God bless the United States of America. God bless you all. thank you

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This story has been updated to correct “Fort Doe” to “Fordo.”