(3rd LD) U.S., Israel launch attack on Iran amid deadlocked nuclear talks

▲ This photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking to the media at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Smoke rises in central Tehran after an Israeli attack on Feb. 28, 2026, in this photo released by EPA. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, released by the Associated Press, shows White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaking with reporters at the White House in Washington on Feb. 24, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Heavy traffic jams are seen in Tehran on Feb. 28, 2026, in this photo released by EPA. (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) Trump-Iran-attack

(3rd LD) U.S., Israel launch attack on Iran amid deadlocked nuclear talks

(ATTN: ADDS photo, more info in paras 23-25)

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Saturday conducted major combat operations in Iran to safeguard Americans from "imminent threats" from Tehran, President Donald Trump said, following Washington's massive military buildup in the Middle East and a struggle to reach a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic.

Trump made the announcement in a video clip posted on Truth Social, saying the U.S. military is conducting a "massive and ongoing" operation to prevent the "very wicked radical dictatorship" in Iran from threatening American and its core national security interests. Israel also joined the attack.

"A short time ago, the U.S. military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime -- a vicious group of very hard, terrible people," Trump said of what the Pentagon called "Operation Epic Fury."

"Its menacing activities directly endanger the U.S., our troops, our bases overseas and our allies throughout the world," he added.

The U.S. and Israel conducted coordinated attacks on Iran, with Washington launching a barrage of strikes from military aircraft and aircraft carriers, reports said. Iran hit back with retaliatory strikes, targeting U.S. military facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, the New York Times said, citing a report from Iran's semiofficial news agency Fars.

Eight months after the U.S. carried out "Operation Midnight Hammer" for military strikes on Iran's key nuclear facilities, the latest attack stoked fears of a broader regional war, particularly at a time when the U.S. seeks to focus more on deterring threats from its top geopolitical rival, China.

Ahead of this week's attack, the U.S. had ramped up pressure on Iran with an increased military presence in the Middle East and around Iranian borders, as an impasse continued in indirect U.S.-Iran talks aimed at reaching a nuclear deal.

"They (Iranians) rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore," Trump said.

"Instead, they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program and to continue developing long-range missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in Europe, our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland."

He repeated his message against Iran's nuclear program.

"It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular, my administration that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon," he said. "I'll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon."

He stressed that the U.S. military will totally "obliterate" Iran's missiles and missile industry.

"We are going to annihilate their navy. We are going to ensure that the regime's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world, and attack our forces," he said.

Trump warned that the Iranian regime will soon learn that no one should challenge "the strength and might" of the U.S. armed forces.

"I built and rebuilt our military in my first administration, and there is no military on Earth even close to its power, strength or sophistication," he said.

Trump outlined a history of Iran's decadeslong campaign against the U.S., which he said started with Iran backing the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days.

"For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many countries," he said.

In a message to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, he called on its members to put down their arms.

"So lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death," he said.

He also sent a message to what he called "great and proud" people of Iran, calling on them to "take over your government" when the U.S. military operation is finished. Earlier, he sent a message of support to Iranian protestors when Tehran conducted a bloody crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

"This will be probably your only change for generations. For many years, you have asked for America's help, but you never got it," Trump said. "No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want.

"America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach," he continued. "This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass."

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago in Florida alongside members of his national security team, and that he spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Prior to the attacks, Secretary Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional notification, and he was able to reach and brief seven of the eight members," she wrote on Truth Social, referring to the congressional leaders.

"The president and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day."

In a social media post, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said that the congressional leaders were briefed in detail earlier this week that military action might become necessary to protect American troops and citizens in Iran.

"I received updates from Secretary Rubio thereafter, and I will remain in close contact with the President and the Department of War as this operation proceeds," he wrote on X.

Johnson stressed that Iran is facing "the severe consequences of its evil actions."

"President Trump and the Administration have made every effort to pursue peaceful and diplomatic solutions in response to the Iranian regime's sustained nuclear ambitions and development, terrorism, and the murder of Americans—and even their own people," he said.

He added, "Iran and its proxies have menaced America and American lives, undermined our core national interests, systematically destabilized the Middle East, and threatened the security of the entire West."

Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said that everything he heard from the Trump administration before and after the strikes on Iran confirmed that "this is a war of choice with no strategic endgame."

"As I expressed to Secretary Rubio when he briefed the Gang of Eight, military action in this region almost never ends well for the United States, and conflict with Iran can easily spiral and escalate in ways we cannot anticipate," he wrote on Facebook.

"It does not appear that Donald Trump has learned the lessons of history."

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