Washington, February 28. In a dramatic escalation of tensions, US President Donald Trump announced the launch of a ‘major combat operation’ against Iran on Saturday. Addressing the Iranian security forces directly, Trump issued a stark ultimatum: ‘Lay down your arms and receive full security, or face death.’ He also rallied the Iranian people, declaring, ‘The time for your freedom has come.’
Trump warned Iranian civilians to remain indoors for their safety. ‘Stay safe. Do not leave your homes. There is great danger outside. Bombs could fall anywhere,’ he cautioned. This comes after recent large-scale US military actions in Iran, aimed at protecting American citizens and neutralizing immediate threats from the regime.
Accusing Iran of posing a persistent danger to America and its allies, Trump highlighted the regime’s 47-year history of hostility. He referenced the 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran and the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut. Labeling Iran as the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, Trump vowed that it would never acquire nuclear weapons.
He recalled June’s ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ which destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. ‘Iran has rejected every opportunity to abandon its nuclear ambitions,’ Trump stated. The new campaign targets the regime’s missile and naval industries for complete destruction to safeguard US national security.
Acknowledging the risks, Trump noted that brave American soldiers may lose their lives and some could be injured—a normal part of warfare. This operation marks one of the largest US military actions in the Middle East in decades. For India, with its deep cultural ties to Iran and growing strategic partnership with the US, any prolonged conflict could disrupt energy supplies, regional stability, and the safety of millions of Indians in West Asia.