President Donald Trump signaled an expansive military campaign against Iran early Saturday and explicitly called for regime change in the Islamic Republic.
In a video posted on Truth Social, he confirmed combat operations aimed at “eliminating imminent threats” from Iran and recounted decades of aggression against U.S. forces at the hands the regime while also pointing out the tens of thousands of protesters who have been slaughtered in Iran in recent months.
Trump added that U.S. policy has been to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and developing long-range ballistic missiles.
“For these reasons, the United States military is undertaking a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests,” he said. “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy. We’re going to ensure that the regime’s terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world.”
In a nod to a potential prolonged operation, Trump also warned “we may have casualties—that often happens in war,” in contrast with recent attacks he ordered that resulted in minimal harm to U.S. personnel.
He then appealed directly to Iran’s armed forces and police, telling them will have “complete immunity” if they disarm. Otherwise, they face certain death.
Trump called on the Iranian people to shelter in place while bombs are falling but to “take over your government” once the U.S. finishes.
“This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it,” he continued. “No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want, so let’s see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.”
The message came after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran early Saturday after weeks of negotiations and the biggest military build-up in the region since the war in Iraq. The airstrikes follow the 12 Day War last June, when the U.S. joined Israel’s air campaign to target Tehran’s nuclear facilities.
While Trump had reportedly considered limited attacks on the regime, sources told CNN that the U.S. involvement was “not a small strike.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the attack as being done “to remove threats,” according to the Associated Press.
The AP also reported that one of the strikes took pla