Trump's special statement after the attack on Iran Text

President Trump announced on Saturday that the United States is launching major military operations inside Iran. Read below the transcript of his full statement, shared via a video on Trump's Truth Social network.

"A short while ago, the United States military commenced major military operations inside Iran. Our objective is to protect the American people by eliminating imminent threats posed by the Iranian regime, a wicked group of very tough, horrible people. Its threatening activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases abroad, and our allies around the world. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted "Death to America" and has waged an endless campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our military, and innocent people in many countries.

One of the regime's earliest acts was to support the violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and hold dozens of Americans hostage for 444 days. In 1983, agents of Iran bombed the Marine barracks in Beirut, killing 241 American servicemen. In 2000, they knew about and were very likely involved in the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. In recent years, agents of this regime have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels traveling international shipping lanes. It has been a great terror, and we will no longer tolerate it.

From Lebanon to Yemen, and from Syria to Iraq, this regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias that have drenched the earth in blood and flesh. It was Hamas, an agent of Iran, that launched the horrific attack on Israel on October 7th, taking 12 of our citizens hostage and murdering over 1000 innocent people, including 46 Americans. It was brutal. It was something the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world's number one state sponsor of terror, and recently they murdered tens of thousands of their own citizens in the streets who were protesting. It has always been the policy of the United States, and especially my administration, that this terrorist regime can never acquire a nuclear weapon. I will say it again. They can never acquire a nuclear weapon.

That is why, in Operation Midnight Hammer, which was executed last June, we destroyed this regime's nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

After that attack, we warned them never to restart their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we repeatedly tried to reach an agreement. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it. Again, they wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it. They didn't know what was happening. They only wanted to do evil.

But Iran refused, as they have for decades. They rejected every opportunity to abandon their nuclear ambitions, and we can no longer tolerate it.

Instead, they sought to rebuild their nuclear program and continued to develop long-range missiles that could threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed abroad, and could soon reach the American homeland. Just imagine for a moment how brazen this regime would be if they ever possessed nuclear weapons and were, in fact, armed with them as a means of delivering their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is launching a massive and sustained operation to prevent this very evil, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our fundamental national security interests. We are destroying their missiles and leveling their missile industry completely to the ground. It will be completely, again, destroyed.

We are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that terrorist proxies in the region can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our troops, and can no longer use their IEDs, or as they are sometimes called, roadside bombs, to severely wound and kill thousands of people, including many Americans.

And we will ensure that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon. It's a very simple message. They can never acquire a nuclear weapon.

This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and power of the United States Armed Forces. I have built and rebuilt our military during my first administration, and no military on Earth is even close to its power, strength, or modernity. My administration has taken every possible step to minimize risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of brave American heroes could be lost, and we could suffer casualties. That is always what happens in war. But we do this not for today. We do this for the future, and it is a noble mission.

We pray for every service member as they humbly put their lives on the line to ensure that Americans and our children are never threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm's way, and with His help, we believe the men and women of the Armed Forces will prevail. We have the greatest military in the world, and they will win.

To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Armed Forces, and all police officers, I say tonight, you must lay down your arms and receive full immunity, or face permanent death. So lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with full immunity, or you will face permanent death.

Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that your hour of freedom is at hand. Stay safe. Do not leave your homes. It is very dangerous outside. Bombs will be falling everywhere. Once we are finished, take over your government. It is up to you to seize it. This will likely be your only chance for generations.

For years, you have asked America for help, but you never received it. No president ever wanted to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who will give you what you want, so let's see your response. America backs you with overwhelming strength and destructive power. Now is the time to take control of your destiny and unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is within your reach. This is the moment of action. Do not let it pass you by.

May God bless the brave men and women of America's Armed Forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless all of you. Thank you."