WASHINGTON, Feb 28 - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has launched what he described as "major combat operations" in Iran, and cautioned that American service members could be wounded or killed.
Speaking in a video circulated on Truth Social, the president said the strikes were focused on eliminating Iranian missiles and "annihilating its navy." He framed the action as forward-looking: "We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission."
Trump acknowledged the human cost of conflict, saying: "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."
The president addressed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, urging them to lay down their weapons and offering them immunity if they complied. He contrasted that option with what he called "certain death" for those who did not surrender.
Washington and Tehran held a series of talks in recent weeks concerning Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the president said, with the latest session occurring on Thursday and ending without a 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," Trump said.
Key developments
- President Trump announced the start of "major combat operations" in Iran and warned of potential U.S. casualties.
- The strikes were described as aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and annihilating its navy.
- Trump said recent talks with Iran produced no agreement and urged Revolutionary Guard members to surrender with a promise of immunity.
Context and immediate details
The president framed the military action as necessary to prevent future threats, repeating that Iran had declined opportunities to give up its nuclear ambitions. He warned that casualties can occur in war and said the mission was undertaken for the future.
Trump repeated an ultimatum to members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard to lay down arms in exchange for immunity, and warned of "certain death" for those who did not comply.
Risks and uncertainties cited in the statement
- Possible U.S. casualties - the president explicitly warned that American lives could be lost.
- No agreement from recent talks - the most recent discussions with Iran ended on Thursday with no deal.
- Continued Iranian refusal to renounce nuclear ambitions - described by the president as a long-standing pattern.
The information presented is limited to the president's声明 and the account of recent talks as described in his message. The statement outlines objectives and a warning but does not provide operational details or timelines.