President Donald Trump declared Monday that the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran represents “our last, best chance to strike” and eliminate what he called the “intolerable threats” posed by the regime in Tehran.
The operation, launched Saturday under the name Operation Epic Fury, has already reshaped the strategic landscape.
Major Iranian leaders were killed in the opening phase, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump vowed the United States will continue the campaign with “ferocious, unyielding resolve.”
The president confirmed that U.S. forces have already sunk 10 Iranian naval vessels and eliminated 49 top regime figures.
The mission is expected to continue for days as U.S. forces target military installations and ballistic missile sites deemed an “imminent threat.”
The president also delivered a clear warning to Tehran: if Iran attempts to “hit very hard,” it will be met with “a force that has never been seen before.”
‘I Was Very Proud’ to End the Obama Deal
Speaking during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House, President Trump drew a direct line between the current operation and his first term in office.
“I was very proud to have knocked out the Iran nuclear deal by President Barack Hussein Obama,” Trump said.
“That was a horrible, horrible, dangerous document.
“They would have had nuclear weapons three years ago.”
Trump argued that Iran has spent “almost 47 years” attacking the United States and killing Americans.
“Every time you see someone with missing arms and legs or a face that’s been absolutely shattered violently — it was almost certainly caused by an Iran roadside bomb,” Trump said.
“They were put there by General Soleimani, who was the father of the roadside bomb …
“But I terminated him in my first term.”
Trump was referring to Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the longtime leader of the Quds Force, whom Trump ordered killed in a January 2020 strike at Baghdad International Airport.
The State Department has said Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more.
Objectives ‘Clear’ and Unapologetic
The president laid out four clear objectives for the operation.
“This was our last, best chance to strike what we’re doing right now and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” Trump said.
“And they are indeed sick and sinister.”
He then detailed the mission’s goals:
“First, we’re destroying Iran’s missile capabilities, and you see that happening on an hourly basis, and their capacity to produce brand new ones and pretty good ones they make,” Trump said.
“Second, we’re annihilating their Navy.
“We’ve knocked out already ten ships.
“They’re at the bottom of the sea.”
“Third, we’re ensuring that the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon,” he said.
“They are never going to have a nuclear weapon.
“I said that from the beginning.
“They’re never going to have a nuclear weapon.
“They were on the road to getting one legitimately through a deal that was signed foolishly by our country.”
Finally, Trump emphasized that the U.S. is “ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”
“And we thought we had a deal, but then they backed out, and they came back, and we thought we had a deal and they backed out,” Trump said.
“I said, you can’t deal with these people.
“You got to do it the right way.”
B-2 Bombers Deployed
The Pentagon confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers armed with 2,000-pound bombs have been deployed as part of Operation Epic Fury, signaling the seriousness and scale of the campaign.
Honoring the Fallen
President Trump also paused to honor four American service members killed in action.
“Today we grieve for the four heroic American service members who have been killed in action and send our love and support to their families,” Trump said.
“In their memory, we continue this mission with ferocious, unyielding resolve to crush the threat this terrorist regime poses to the American people, and a threat, indeed it is.”
He reaffirmed confidence in U.S. forces.
“We have the strongest and most powerful by far military in the world, and we will easily prevail,” Trump said.
“We’re already substantially ahead of our time projections, but whatever the time is, it’s okay.
“Whatever it takes, we will always, and we have, right from the beginning, we projected 4 to 5 weeks, but we have capability to go far longer than that.
“We’ll do it,” the president added.
He concluded by thanking those serving on the front lines.
“Please join me in thanking every American service member who bravely is standing in harm’s way.
“They really are incredible.”
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