President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to rise up against their government after the United States and Israel launched what he described as “major combat operations” in Iran, dramatically escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The joint military action reportedly began shortly after 9 a.m. local time. U.S. officials referred to the campaign as “Operation Epic Fury.” The strikes marked a significant development in the long-running conflict between Iran and its adversaries in the region.
In a video message posted to social media, Trump addressed the Iranian public directly, urging them to take advantage of the situation and assume control of their country’s leadership once military operations concluded.
“The hour of your freedom is at hand,” Trump said in the recording. He advised civilians to remain indoors and avoid travel during the strikes, warning that the situation would be extremely dangerous. “Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere,” he said.
Trump told Iranians that after the military campaign ended, they should seize the opportunity to overthrow their government.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” he said. Trump argued that the moment represented a rare chance for political change. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations,” he added.
In the same message, the president said the United States was backing the Iranian people with significant military power. “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump said, encouraging citizens to “seize control of your destiny” and build what he described as a prosperous future.
While part of his remarks focused on encouraging internal political change in Iran, Trump also emphasized that the primary objective of the operation was to protect American interests. He described Iran’s leadership as a “vicious regime” and said the campaign was designed to eliminate immediate threats to the United States.
“The Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Trump said. “We are defending the American people by eliminating imminent threats.”
The president acknowledged that U.S. forces could suffer casualties during the operation but said the mission was justified by its long-term goals.
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties—that often happens in war,” Trump said. “But we’re doing this not just for now. We’re doing it for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
Trump also pointed to years of unsuccessful negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. He accused Tehran of continuing to expand its nuclear capabilities and described the country as “the world’s number-one state sponsor of terror.”
“It has always been the policy of the United States—particularly my administration—that this regime can never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “I’ll say it again: they can never have a nuclear weapon.”
According to Trump, one of the goals of the operation is to dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile systems and significantly weaken its naval forces. He warned that the Iranian government would soon understand the consequences of challenging U.S. military power.
“This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces,” he said.
Trump also addressed members of Iran’s security forces—including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military, and police—urging them to lay down their weapons. He said those who surrendered would be granted immunity but warned that those who resisted would face “certain death.”
The military action came only hours after Trump told reporters he was dissatisfied with the progress of diplomatic negotiations with Iran. The two countries had been engaged in indirect talks, and on February 19 the president set a deadline of roughly 10 to 15 days for Iran to reach an agreement.
During his recent State of the Union address, Trump said his diplomatic efforts were backed by the possibility of military action if negotiations failed. He has repeatedly warned that Iran would face severe consequences if talks collapsed.
“It’s been mass terror,” Trump said. “And we are not going to put up with it any longer.”
