Trump announces Major Combat Operation in Iran, calls IRGC to lay down weapons

CAIRO – 28 February 2026: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States military has begun Major Combat Operations in Iran, calling on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to lay down their weapons.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops, and the innocent people in many, many countries,” he said in an eight-minute address.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,” he added.

He affirmed that the Iranian regime can never have a nuclear weapon. “That is why, in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime's nuclear programme at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal,” he continued.

“They've rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore. Instead, 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,” 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. We are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated,” he said.

“We're going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world, and attack our forces, and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans, and we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

Trump said that the regime would soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States. He added that his administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region.

Addressing members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Trump called on them to lay down their weapons in exchange for complete immunity. “So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death,” he said.

He also addressed the Iranian people, urging them to take over the government of Iran. “I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside; bombs will be dropping everywhere.

“When we are finished, take over your government […] Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach,” he said.