The United States and Israel carried out coordinated military strikes on Iran early Saturday after diplomatic efforts surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program failed to meet the demands set by President Donald Trump. The action marked a sharp escalation following weeks of tension over Iran’s alleged attempts to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities. In an eight-minute video posted to his social media platform, Trump described the assault as a “massive and ongoing operation,” framing it as a decisive response to what he characterized as continued Iranian defiance. While he did not initially provide detailed information about the specific targets, reports soon emerged from within Iran. According to BBC News and the Associated Press, smoke was seen rising from central Tehran, with one reported strike occurring near offices associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The developments signaled a dramatic turn from diplomacy to open confrontation.
Trump justified the strikes as necessary to eliminate what he described as a growing threat. He stated that the objective was to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and dismantle its missile industry entirely. The president claimed that Iran had attempted to rebuild its nuclear program and continue developing long-range missiles capable of threatening U.S. allies in Europe, American troops stationed abroad, and potentially the United States itself. By portraying the operation as preventative, Trump positioned it as a move to protect both regional and domestic security interests. His language underscored the administration’s view that previous diplomatic efforts had failed to curb Tehran’s ambitions, leaving military action as the remaining option.
Israel confirmed its direct participation in the operation. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as “preemptive,” emphasizing Israel’s intent to act before any perceived imminent threat could materialize. Following the attack, the Israeli government declared a nationwide state of alert in anticipation of retaliation. The Israel Defense Forces announced on social media that the alert was designed to prepare the public for the possibility of missile launches toward Israeli territory. Shortly afterward, the IDF reported detecting missiles fired from Iran toward Israel, heightening fears of rapid escalation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the joint effort, calling Iran’s leadership an existential threat and asserting that the coordinated action would help remove that danger.
Beyond outlining military goals, Trump directly addressed the Iranian population in his video statement. He urged citizens and members of Iran’s security forces to seize what he described as a historic opportunity to take control of their government once operations concluded. He suggested that those within Iran’s security apparatus would receive immunity if they stood down, but warned of severe consequences if they resisted. The rhetoric echoed previous statements he had made during nationwide anti-government protests in Iran, when security forces were accused by human rights activists of killing thousands of demonstrators. At that time, Trump had threatened harsh retaliation and expressed support for protesters, later stating he received assurances that the violence had ceased before refocusing attention on Iran’s nuclear activities.