US President Donald Trump said American military operations against Iran will continue “in full force” until Washington achieves all its stated objectives under what he described as Operation Epic Fury.
In a video posted on Truth Social on March 1, Trump said: “Combat operations continue at this time in full force, and they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved. We have very strong objectives.”
He said US forces had struck “hundreds of targets” across Iran, including facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as Iranian air defence systems.
“Just now, it was announced that we knocked out nine ships plus their naval building, all in a matter of literally minutes,” he added, without providing further operational details.
Trump confirmed that three US service members had been killed in the ongoing operations and warned that more casualties were possible.
“There will likely be more,” he said, vowing to avenge the deaths of Americans and promising to “deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against civilisation.”
He said Iran could have reached a deal with Washington “two weeks ago”, but claimed the Iranian leadership “just couldn’t get there”.
“These actions are right, and they are necessary to ensure that Americans will never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime armed with nuclear weapons and lots of threats,” he said, adding that such threats “will not be allowed to continue any longer”.
Trump also referred to the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as “wretched and vile” and accusing him of having “the blood of hundreds and thousands of Americans on his hands”.
He called on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with Iranian military and police forces, to lay down their arms, offering immunity in exchange for surrender and warning of “certain death” if they refused.
Addressing the Iranian public, Trump urged those who “yearn for freedom” to “be brave, be bold, be heroic, and take back your country”.
“America is with you,” he said. “I made a promise to you, and I fulfilled that promise. The rest will be up to you, but we’ll be there to help.”
