English transcript

Over the past 36 hours,

the United States and its partners have

launched Operation Epic Fury,

one of the largest, most complex, most

overwhelming military offensives

the world has ever seen.

Nobody's seen anything like it.

We have hit hundreds of targets

in Iran including

Revolutionary Guard facilities,

Iranian air defense systems,

just now

it was announced that we knocked out nine ships plus their naval

building

all in a matter of literally minutes.

Iran's formerly Supreme Leader

Ayatollah

Khamenei is dead.

This wretched and vile man

had the blood of hundreds and

even thousands

of Americans on his hands and was responsible for the slaughter of

countless thousands of innocent people all

across many countries.

Last night,

all over Iran the voices of the Iranian people could be heard cheering and

celebrating in the streets

when his death was announced.

The entire military command

is gone as well

and many of them want to

surrender into saving their lives.

They want immunity.

They're calling by the thousands.

Combat operations continue at this time in full force and

they will continue until all of our objectives are achieved.

We have very strong

objectives.

They could have done something two weeks ago but they just couldn't get there.

Earlier today,

CENTCOM shared the news that three US military service members

have been killed in action.

As one nation we grieve for the

true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice

for our nation,

even as we continue the righteous mission for which they

gave their lives.

We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send

our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of

the fallen.

And sadly,

there will likely be more.

Before it ends, that's the way it is.

Likely be more, but we'll do everything possible

where that won't be the case.

But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most

punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against

basically civilization.

They have waged war

against civilization itself.

Our resolve and likewise

that of Israel

has never been stronger. America is now

again the richest,

most powerful nation in the world, by far.

But the only reason we enjoy the quality of life that we do and the

freedom and security is we have

done things that others are

unable to do.

But it's because of warriors who are

willing to lay down their lives to do battle

with our enemies.

And they do battle better than

anybody.

An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles

and nuclear weapons would be a dire threat to every American.

We cannot allow a nation that

raises terrorist armies to

possess such weapons

would allow them to extort the world

to their evil will. Not gonna let it happen.

We're not happening

to us and we're not gonna let it happen to others.

The United States has the strongest military

the world has ever seen. I rebuilt our military in my first term.

There's never been a military

like we possess.

And frankly, there's nobody even

close. But

we are now using that military for good. We want to have it for

good purpose.

We're undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure

security for our

own time and place,

but for our children and their children, just as our

ancestors have done for us

many, many years ago.

This is the duty and the burden of a free people.

These actions are right and they are necessary

to ensure that Americans will

never have to face a radical, bloodthirsty terrorist regime

armed with nuclear weapons and lots of threats.

For almost 50 years, these wicked extremists have been

attacking the United States while

chanting the slogan

"Death to America" or "Death to Israel" or both.

They are the world's number one state sponsor of terror.

We are the world's greatest and most powerful

nation so we can do something about what they do.

These intolerable threats will not continue any longer.

I once again urge the

Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military,

police

to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death.

It will be certain death.

Won't be pretty.

I call upon all Iranian patriots who

yearn for freedom

to seize this moment

to be brave, be bold, be heroic,

and take back your country.

America is with you.

I made a promise to you and I fulfilled that promise.

The rest will be up to you,

but we'll be there to help.

Thank you.

God bless you to our incredible warriors

and God bless the United States

of America.

Thank you.