Trump Urges Iranian Citizens to Overthrow Government, Demands Tehran Military Surrender
US President Donald Trump has urged Iranian citizens to overthrow their government following Washington and Israel’s launch of a wave of aerial attacks against Tehran on Saturday, 28 February local time.
“To the great and proud people of Iran, I say to you tonight that your time for freedom has arrived,” Trump stated in a video address, as reported by CNN on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
“When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours. This may be your only chance for several generations to come,” he said.
In his statement, Trump described US operations as “large-scale and sustained” efforts aimed at preventing what he termed “this extremely evil radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests”.
He asserted that US attacks “will destroy their missiles and devastate their missile industry until it is razed to the ground”.
Trump emphasised that he would undertake actions never before pursued by his presidential predecessors.
“For years, you have asked for American help, but you have never received it. No president has been willing to do what I will do tonight. Now, you have a president who delivers what you want, so let’s see how you respond,” he said.
“America supports you with extraordinary power and devastating destructive capability. Now is the time to take control of your destiny and to open the prosperous and glorious future that is already within reach for you,” he stated.
“This is the time to act. Do not let this opportunity pass,” Trump declared in his address to the Iranian people.
Trump also called on Iranian military personnel, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and Iranian police forces to lay down their weapons and surrender in exchange for “full immunity”.
“To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, the Armed Forces, and all law enforcement, I say to you tonight that you must lay down your weapons and receive full immunity, or otherwise face certain death,” Trump stated firmly in a video released via his Truth Social platform on Saturday morning, 28 February US time, following the attacks on Iran.
“So, lay down your weapons, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death,” he concluded.