US President Donald Trump on Saturday declared a large-scale assault on Iran, pledging to “wipe out” its naval forces and missile facilities while calling on Iranians to rise against their government.
In a televised address following the commencement of joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Trump stated that the objective was to dismantle the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities and remove the leadership that has ruled since the 1979 revolution.
“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally — again — obliterated. We’re going to annihilate their navy,” Trump said in the address from his Florida home posted to his Truth Social platform.
Speaking to Iranians, Trump said: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.”
“This will be probably your only chance for generations,” Trump said. “The hour of your freedom is at hand.”
Trump urged Iranian forces to surrender, including the elite Revolutionary Guards that is tasked with safeguarding the cleric-run government.
“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity or in the alternative, face certain death.”
Trump justified the assault on Iran saying: “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
“They attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland,” he said.
And Trump warned ordinary Iranians that the US bombing would be large-scale.
“Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere.”
The attack was widely expected after Trump ordered the biggest military deployment to the Middle East in years.