WASHINGTON, Saturday, February 28, 2026 (WNP): U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that American forces had launched “major combat operations in Iran,” declaring that the objective was to eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons.

In an eight-minute video address posted on his social media platform, Trump said the United States military had begun a “massive and ongoing operation” targeting Iran’s missile capabilities, naval assets and broader military infrastructure.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said, accusing Tehran of endangering U.S. troops, overseas bases and allies.

He asserted that Iran had continued efforts to rebuild its nuclear programme and develop long-range missile systems capable of reaching Europe and potentially the United States. Reiterating his longstanding position, Trump said Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon.”

The president referenced a previous U.S. military action, which he identified as “Operation Midnight Hammer,” claiming that American forces had struck Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan last year. He said Washington had warned Tehran not to resume nuclear activities and had attempted to negotiate a deal, but those efforts had failed.

Trump accused Iran of supporting militant groups across the Middle East and cited past attacks against U.S. personnel and assets, including the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut and more recent strikes against American forces in the region.

He further linked Tehran to regional instability from Lebanon to Yemen, Syria and Iraq, and blamed Iran-backed groups for attacks on U.S. allies.

In a direct message to members of Iran’s armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Trump called on them to lay down their weapons, offering what he termed “complete immunity,” while warning of severe consequences if they continued to resist.

Addressing the Iranian public, the president urged citizens to remain indoors during the military campaign, warning that conditions would be dangerous as operations continued.

He appealed to Iranians to “take over your government” once the operation concluded, saying this could be a decisive moment for political change.

Trump acknowledged that U.S. forces could face casualties but framed the operation as necessary to secure long-term American and allied security interests. He said additional protective measures had been taken to safeguard U.S. personnel in the region.

The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns of wider regional conflict and significant geopolitical repercussions. There was no immediate official response from Iranian authorities at the time of filing this report.