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.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) threatened an attack on Iran.

It remains unclear what Mr. Trump will decide about using force against Iran, though he laid down two red lines – the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the possible mass execution of detainees.

At least 6,221 people have been killed in Iran’s bloody crackdown on demonstrations, with many more feared dead, activists said Wednesday (January 28, 2026).

“Hopefully Iran will quickly Come to the Table’ and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties,” Mr. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!” Mentioning the June strikes on Iran, Mr. Trump wrote: “The next attack will be far worse!”

The Commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Thursday (January 22, 2026) warned Israel and the U.S. against “miscalculations” in the wake of mass protests, saying the force had its “finger on the trigger”.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against the Islamic Republic after Washington backed and joined Israel’s 12-day war in June.

A fortnight of protests starting in late December shook the clerical leadership under supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but the movement has petered out in the face of a crackdown that activists say has left thousands dead.

Guards Commander General Mohammad Pakpour warned Israel and the United States “to avoid any miscalculations, by learning from historical experiences and what they learned in the 12-day imposed war, so that they do not face a more painful and regrettable fate”.

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme Commander-in-Chief — a leader dearer than their own lives,” he said, referring to Mr. Khamenei.

His comments came in a written statement quoted by state television marking the national day in Iran to celebrate the Guards, a force whose mission is to protect the 1979 Islamic revolution from internal and external threats.

Activists accuse the Guards of playing a frontline role in the deadly crackdown on protests. The group is sanctioned as a terrorist entity by countries including Australia, Canada and the United States, and campaigners have long urged similar moves from the EU and UK.

Mr. Pakpour took over as Guards Commander last year after his predecessor Hossein Salami was one of several key military figures killed in an Israeli strike during the 12-day war, losses which revealed Israel’s deep intelligence penetration of the Islamic republic.

Giving their first official toll from the protests, Iranian authorities on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) said 3,117 people were killed.

The statement from the Islamic Republic’s Foundation for Martyrs and Veterans sought to draw a distinction between “martyrs”, who it said were members of security forces and innocent bystanders, and what it described as “rioters” backed by the U.S..

Of its toll of 3,117, it said 2,427 people were martyrs.

However, rights groups say the heavy toll was caused by security forces firing directly on protesters and that the actual number of those killed could be far higher and even extend to over 20,000.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said “the future for the Iranian people can only be in a regime change”, adding that “the Ayatollah regime is in quite a fragile situation”.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he wanted a peace deal with Iran, after the United States joined Israel in striking the Islamic republic’s nuclear sites during a brief war earlier this year.

“They got it from one side, from the other, and you know it would be great if we could make a peace deal with them,” Mr. Trump said of Iran, a key backer of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, during a speech to Israel’s parliament.

“Would you be happy with that? Wouldn’t it be nice, I think. Because I think they want to.”

Mr. Trump said the ball was in Tehran’s court for any agreement to come to pass.

“We are ready when you are,” the Republican said.

Mr. Trump also defended pulling Washington out of an agreement brokered under ex-president Barack Obama on Iran’s nuclear programme, long a sticking point in Israel’s relations with its arch-foe.

“I terminated the Iran nuclear deal and I was very proud to do it,” Trump said.

“Yet even to Iran, whose regime has inflicted so much death on the Middle East, the hand of friendship and cooperation is open,” he told the Knesset.

“They want to make a deal and we’re going to see if we can do something,” he added.

“Neither the United States nor Israel bear the people of Iran any hostility. We merely want to live in peace.”