President Donald Trump says the United States of America objective is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime…We are going to destroy their missiles, we are going to annihilate their navy.”
President Trump confirmed on Saturday morning 28 February that in a pre- recorded message: “When we are finished, take over your government, it will be yours to take,”
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump added. “Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump also sent a message to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard: “You should lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death.”
The US President said that the objective was to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.” “We are going to destroy their missiles, we are going to annihilate their navy,” Trump said.
He also explained that the US has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to US personnel in the region.
Trump confirms US operation in Iran, calls for regime change
Vehicles line up during a traffic block, after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran.
World leaders silent amid US, Israeli war with Iran
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, February 17, 2026.
Khamenei has been moved to ‘secure location’ as Israel strikes Iran
Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the US launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.
Live Updates: Israel, US launch attack on Iran
The United States was involved and coordinated with Israel in its preemptive attack on Iran on Saturday morning, with the Department of Defense calling it Operation Epic Fury.
The strikes were against targets that posed a threat to Israel and the region, the source said. Strikes are likely to continue as the day progresses and are being carried out by air and sea, a US official told Reuters.
Iranian media reported strikes targeting the IRGC Intelligence Directorate, as well as hits in central Tehran. The country has closed its airspace in response to the strikes. A Reuters report explained that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is not in Tehran and has been transferred to a “secure location,” an Iranian official confirmed.
An Israeli security official told Reuters that the operation was planned for months and its timing was set several weeks ago.
Smoke rises in Tehran as Israel launches a strike on Iran,
Israel strikes Iran to ‘remove threats,’ issues nationwide alert Sources in the defense establishment stated one of the objectives of the strikes will be to “remove threats to the Israeli home front, with an emphasis on missile launchers and unmanned aerial vehicle bases.”
At the time of the attack, the IDF sent a national warning to all citizens to stay near protected spaces. “This is a proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the State of Israel,” the IDF said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
