As explosions rocked Tehran and Israel announced “preemptive” strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump confirmed the role of the US in launching “major combat operations” in the Islamic republic.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said in a video posted on his Truth Social account.
His advice to the Iranian government: Surrender or die.
In a remarkable speech Trump instructed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards to lay down arms.
“Should you do so you will get full immunity. If you don’t, you will face certain death,” the board of Peace said in a video circulation on social media.
The president vowed to destroy Iran’s missiles, raze its missile industry to the ground and annihilate the navy, reiterating that it cannot have a nuclear weapon.
The attacks come as talks over Iran’s nuclear program have been ongoing under Oman’s mediation. A new round of talks in Geneva ended on Thursday.
Last June, the US struck three Iranian nuclear sites towards the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran war. – AA