Trump Issues Ultimatum to Iran Amid Military Action
President Donald Trump has urged Iran’s military to surrender its weapons or face “certain death,” while encouraging the Iranian people to rise up and “take control of their destiny” amid what he described as a “massive” military operation targeting Tehran.
Overnight, coordinated strikes by the US and Israeli forces hit Iran, with Trump addressing both the Iranian people and their government. He stated the attacks were necessary to neutralize an “imminent threat” from the Iranian regime that he claimed endangers the United States, American military personnel, overseas bases, and allies worldwide. He mentioned that US forces had recently begun significant combat operations in Iran.
In response, Iran launched counterattacks against Israel.
Trump elaborated that the goal was to dismantle Iran’s missile stockpile and “annihilate” its missile production capabilities. He emphasized the need to prevent Iran’s long-range, nuclear-capable missiles from posing a threat to the US or its European allies.
The President remarked:
Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and has recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens. We are developing long-range missiles that can threaten our very good friends in Europe, our military overseas, and potentially reach the American mainland.
Given these points, the U.S. military has commenced extensive operations to stop this radical dictatorship from jeopardizing the core security interests of the United States and our allies. We intend to obliterate their missiles and their missile industry.
Trump also assured that “every possible measure” was being taken to safeguard US service members, although he cautioned that casualties were still a likelihood given the scale of the operations. He stated:
I don’t say this lightly; the Iranian regime is out to kill. We have lost brave American lives, and more may be lost. That can happen in war. But we’re not just doing this for today; we’re doing it for the future, a mission worth undertaking. We pray for our service members risking their lives to protect the American people and ensure our children are safe from a nuclear-armed Iran.
Trump urged Iran’s military and police forces to disarm, offering them “full immunity” if they complied, adding that otherwise, they would face dire consequences. He called upon Iranians to take this moment as their chance for freedom, saying:
Please evacuate. Stay indoors; it’s dangerous outside. Bombs will be falling everywhere. After this, take over your government. It can be yours. Perhaps this is your only chance for generations… now is the time to seize control of your destiny.
Early Saturday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the nation, framing the joint operation with the US as a move against an “existential threat.” He noted that for 47 years, the Iranian regime has threatened Israel and the US. He stated that this brutal regime must not be allowed nuclear capabilities that would endanger humanity.
As a result of Iranian retaliations, air raid sirens sounded across Israel. The Israel Defense Forces reported multiple missile attacks from Iran, stating that they were working to intercept the threats effectively.
Moreover, reports indicated explosions heard in Manama, Bahrain, where the US 5th Fleet is based.
This is a developing story, and updates will follow.
