Trump announces “massive countermeasures” against Iran. Watch the full video and read his statement.

“A short time ago, the United States military began a major war in Iran. Our goal is to protect the American people by removing the immediate threats from the Iranian government, a brutal group of hard-line, fearsome people. Its dangerous activities endanger the United States, our soldiers, our bases overseas and our helpers around the world. For 47 years, the Iranian campaign of blood has shed endless blood in America. The killing, directed at the United States, our soldiers and and innocent people in many, many countries.

Among the regime’s first actions was to support the violent takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iranian proxies carried out a bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 American soldiers. In 2000, they knew and were probably involved in the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces have killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq. The regime’s lawyers have continued to attack dozens of U.S. military personnel in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lanes. It has been a great fear, and we will not tolerate it anymore.

From Lebanon to Yemen, and Syria to Iraq, this regime has armed, trained and financed terrorist forces that have drenched the world in blood and guts. And it was Iran’s representative, Hamas, that launched a terrible attack on Israel on October 7, killing more than 1000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while kidnapping 12 of our citizens. It was brutal. Something the world has never seen before.

Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, and has recently killed tens of thousands of its citizens in the streets as they protest. It has always been the policy of the United States, particularly, my administration, that this terrorist state will never have a nuclear weapon. I will say it again. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

That is why, when we struck midnight last June, we shut down the regime’s nuclear program in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

After that attack, we warned them not to pursue aggressive nuclear weapons again, and we repeatedly called for an agreement. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. And, they wanted to do it. They didn’t want to do it. They didn’t know what was going on. They just wanted to do bad things.

But Iran is refusing, as it has done for decades and decades, refusing every opportunity to abandon its nuclear ambitions, and we can’t take it anymore.

Instead, they tried to rebuild their nuclear program and continue to develop long-range missiles that could now threaten our best friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas, and could quickly reach the US mainland. Just imagine how bold this regime would be if they had, and actually were armed with, nuclear weapons as a means of delivering their message.

For these reasons, the United States military is doing a great and ongoing job to prevent this very evil, violent dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests. We will destroy their missiles and destroy their missile industry. It will also be completely destroyed.

We will destroy their navy. We will ensure that terrorist proxies in this region can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called, to seriously injure and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans.

And we will make sure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon. A very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon.

This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the might and power of the United States Armed Forces. I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration, and no military in the world comes close to its strength, power or sophistication. My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to US personnel in the region. However, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime wants to kill. The lives of brave American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties. That often happens in war. But we do this, not yet. We’re doing this for the future, and it’s a good job.

We pray for all service members as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that the American people and our children are never threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all our heroes from harm, and we hope that, with his help, the men and women of the army will be victorious. We have the greatest in the world, and they will win.

To the members of the Islamic Revolution Guard, the army and all the police, I say that tonight you must lay down your weapons and be fully protected, or else, face certain death. So put your arms down. You will be treated properly with complete immunization, or you will face certain death.

Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay protected. Do not leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we’re done, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, perhaps, your only chance for generations.

For many years, you have asked for American help, but you have not received it. No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who gives you what you want, let’s see how you respond. America supports you with great power and destructive power. Now is the time to take control of your destiny and unlock the bright and glorious future that is within your reach. This is the time for action. Don’t let it pass.

May God bless the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. May God bless the United States of America. God bless you all. Thank you.”