Trump Declares Intent to Destroy Iran's Missile Industry After Strikes on Tehran
US President Donald Trump has claimed responsibility for military operations against Iran. In a video statement, Trump stated that the strikes were conducted to destroy Iran’s missiles and navy. The purpose of the strikes was also stated to be preventing Iran from threatening American lives.
“The United States military is conducting major and ongoing operations to prevent this extremely evil radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests,” Trump said in his announcement, as reported by detikNews citing CNN on Saturday (28 February 2026).
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating the real threat from the Iranian regime,” he stated.
“We will destroy their missiles and completely level their missile industry to the ground. The industry will be utterly — once again — annihilated. We will destroy their navy,” Trump asserted in a video statement released via social media platform Truth Social on Saturday (28 February) in the early hours of US time.
Trump claimed to possess intelligence of Iran’s efforts to rebuild its nuclear programme. The US and Israel also conducted bombing campaigns against Iran’s nuclear programme last year.
“They have rejected every opportunity to abandon their nuclear ambitions, and we can no longer tolerate it,” Trump said in his statement.
The US and Israel launched strikes against Iranian territory on Saturday (28 February). Israel also declared a state of emergency and closed its airspace.
Israel’s Defence Ministry announced that its military forces had launched a “preliminary strike” against Iran. Israel immediately declared a state of emergency following the strikes. Air raid sirens sounded across various regions of Israel.
“The State of Israel has launched a preliminary strike against Iran,” the Israeli Defence Ministry stated firmly.
“Israeli Defence Minister Katz has declared a special and immediate state of emergency throughout the country,” the statement added.
Israel also closed its airspace to all civilian flights after announcing the strikes against Iran.