Trump Says U.S. Military Is “Undertaking A Massive And Ongoing Operation” In Iran
on Feb 28, 2026
Explosions Were Seen In Tehran, Iran, As The United States And Israel Conducted Strikes On The Islamic State
After months of tension between the United States and Iran amid hopes to secure a nuclear deal, as well as the ongoing concerns as reports have circulated of Iran massacring its own citizens, military action was taken on Saturday, Feb. 28.
In a joint operation with Israel, the United States has launched an attack on Tehran, Iran, the capital of the Islamic State.
The day before these joint strikes by Israel and the United States, President Donald Trump was asked about his feelings regarding the nuclear talks with Iran.
At this press gaggle, Trump replied, “I’m not happy with the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we have to have, so I’m not thrilled with that. We’ll see what happens.”
According to a statement made to Fox News by Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz, these strikes are being conducted in Iran’s capital “to remove threats” directed at Israel.
Trump Speaks On The Latest U.S. Strike On Iran
Then, at 2:30 a.m. (EST) on Saturday, Feb. 28, Trump released a video statement on Truth Social, saying, “A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime. A vicious group of very hard, terrible people.”
Continuing, Trump said, “Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.”
Looking back to history, Trump looked to the Iranian Revolution, saying that for 47 years the chant “death to America” has been commonplace in Iran, with frequent attacks and threats made upon America and its allies.
“Iran is the No. 1 state sponsor of terror,” Trump declared, adding, “and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as it protested.”
Trump then said, “It has always been the policy of the United States in particular, my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Looking to the nation’s past nuclear pursuits, Trump remarked, “They just wanted to practice evil.”
Clarifying the decision to take military action, Trump said, “But 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 stated that Iran has been working to rebuild its nuclear program, developing long range missiles that can “threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe.”
Noting that Iran presently does not have nuclear weapons, Trump said:
“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.”
Trump said, “We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground … We are going to annihilate their navy, we are going to ensure that the region’s terror proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces.”
Ensuring that “Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon” was reiterated as a key principle of this military effort.
“I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” Trump said. “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.”
Further, Trump then declared, “We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and their children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm’s way, and we trust that, with His help, the men and women of the Armed Forces will prevail.”
Directing his attention to the Iranian military and law enforcement, Trump then said, “I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or, in the alternative, face certain death.”
This action follows recent military intervention in Venezuela, which saw the arrest of the nation’s leader, President Nicolás Maduro, on Jan. 3.
While campaigning in 2024, Trump often said the phrase “no new wars,” and many of his critics have questioned his fulfillment of this promise, even as he touts ending eight wars in his second term, so far.
Watch Trump’s full statement on the Feb. 28 strike on Iran, here:
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Strikes Follow End Of “The 12 Day War” In 2025
This comes months after the June 21, 2025, bunker buster strikes that the United States conducted on three nuclear program sites in Iran. Known as Operation Midnight Hammer, these B-1 Bomber strikes occurred during what became known as “The 12 Day War.”
Beginning with Israel’s operation Rising Lion, which was a surprise attack on Iran on June 13, 2025, the days that followed saw back-and-forth volleys of strikes between Israel and Iran.
Israel’s “Iron Dome” defense system was put to the test repeatedly, as it had previously been tested during President Joe Biden’s term as president in April and October of 2024.
During those 2024 attacks, the United States did help shoot down some ballistic missiles, but there was no further military action.
This is a developing story…
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