Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump has said that joint American and Israeli strikes on Iran are intended to neutralise what he described as “imminent threats” posed by the Iranian leadership, using some of his strongest language yet as tensions escalate across the region.
Speaking on Saturday, Trump confirmed that the United States Armed Forces had begun what he called “major combat operations” inside Iran. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime,” he said.
Trump went on to outline a series of goals for the campaign, claiming the US would destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, dismantle its naval forces, and prevent Tehran from supporting armed groups across the region. “We are going to annihilate their navy,” he said, adding that Iran would “never have a nuclear weapon.”
Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear arms, maintaining that its nuclear program is strictly civilian. Neither US intelligence agencies nor the International Atomic Energy Agency have presented evidence that Iran is pursuing an atomic weapon, despite repeated claims by Israel and some figures within the Trump administration.
Read More: Iran War Sparks Market Turmoil, Oil Prices Surge
As Washington and Tel Aviv pressed ahead with military action, Iranian state media reported that Tehran is preparing a “crushing” response, vowing to retaliate against Israel and its allies.
One of the areas hit in Tehran was reportedly close to offices associated with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader. However, officials reportedly said that Khamenei was not in the capital at the time and had been moved to a secure location.
Read More: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE Rocked by Blasts as Iran Retaliates
As the situation continues to unfold, fears are growing that the confrontation could expand further, with serious consequences for regional security and global stability.
