President Donald Trump
| Photo Credit: AP
U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (February 28, 2026) said the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran” after Israel launched strikes.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Mr. Trump said in a video shared on social media. Mr. Trump claimed that Iran has continued to develop its nuclear programme and plans to develop missiles to reach the U.S.
Also read: Israel-Iran conflict LIVE updates
The strikes, which Trump said were aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and annihilating its navy, follow repeated U.S.-Israeli warnings that they would strike Iran again if it pressed ahead with its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
“I do not make this statement lightly. The Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Mr. Trump said in a video shared on Truth Social.
“The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties that often happens in war, but we’re doing this, not for now. We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission.”
Mr. Trump told the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s armed forces, to lay down their weapons, promising that they would be granted immunity.
Read | Israel and America attack Iran
The other option, according to Mr. Trump, is “certain death.”
Washington and Tehran held a series of talks in recent weeks about Iran’s nuclear ambition. The most recent one was held on Thursday with no deal.
“Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades. They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore,” Mr. Trump said.
He further went on to appeal to the Iranian people to ‘take over your government — it will be yours to take’
Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Roads to Khamenei’s compound in downtown Tehran had been shut down by authorities as other blasts rang out across the capital. Neighbouring Iraq closed its airspace, according to the Ministry of Transport.
Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official briefed on the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic information on the attack.
Read | Iran Army Chief warns U.S., Israel against attack, says forces on high alert
Mr. Trump wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, and he sees an opportunity while the country is struggling at home with growing dissent following nationwide protests. Iran had hoped to avert a war, but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile program or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Published – February 28, 2026 01:33 pm IST
