"Immunity or certain death": US President Trump warns Iranian forces to lay down their arms and surrender

Washington [US], February 28 : US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iranian forces to lay down their arms and surrender, offering immunity, or face "certain death" after the Middle East plunged into a state of full-scale conflict as a combined military operation by Israel and the United States struck multiple targets across Iran.
In a televised address on Truth Social, Trump confirmed the launch of a military operation in Iran, targeting the country's nuclear and military infrastructure.
"To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces, and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity, or, in the alternative, face certain death. So, lay down your arms, you will be treated fairly with total immunity, or you will face certain death," he said.
Declaring that the "hour of your freedom is at hand," Trump urged Iranian citizens to remain sheltered as "bombs will be dropping everywhere". He framed the operation as a historic opportunity for the public to "take over" their government.
"Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations," he said.
"For many years, you have asked for America's help, but you never got it. 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. So let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force...," he added.
Trump said that the military action was a final necessity to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, asserting that it is the immutable policy of his administration that Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon."
"Iran is the world's number one state sponsor of terror, and just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested. It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I'll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon...," he said.
Trump claimed that despite repeated attempts to reach a deal, Iran refused to renounce its nuclear ambitions and instead attempted to rebuild its program while developing long-range missiles capable of reaching Europe and the American homeland.
He accused Iran of being the world's top state sponsor's terror and developing nuclear weapons, despite repeated warnings from the US.
"We warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it. Again, they wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it. They didn't know what was happening. They just wanted to practice evil. But Iran refused, just as it has for decades and decades. They rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore. 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 said.
Trump vowed to "annihilate" the Iranian Navy and dismantle the network of regional terrorist proxies. "For these reasons, the United States military has undertaken a massive and ongoing operation to prevent this very wicked, radical dictatorship from threatening America and our core national security interests...We're going to annihilate their Navy. We're going to ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilise the region or the world...," he said.
Israel and the US launched a joint military strike on Iran, codenamed Operation Roaring Lion, targeting military sites, missile production facilities, and areas near Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's office.
The name was decided upon by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after the IDF had a different internal name for the strikes, according to The Times of Israel.
Several ministries in southern Tehran were reportedly struck, and residents heard powerful blasts as tensions surged following a pre-emptive military strike by Israel, which reportedly targeted multiple sites, including in the capital.
Iranian officials vowed a "crushing response," warning of strong retaliation against perceived aggression. The situation has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict, with emergency measures and public anxiety spreading as developments continue to unfold.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday confirmed a short while ago that missiles had been launched from Iran toward Israeli territory following a joint US-Israeli "pre-emptive" strike on Iranian territory.
According to the IDF, defensive systems were immediately activated to intercept the incoming threat, underscoring Israel's layered missile defence capabilities.
The Home Front Command has issued precautionary directives via mobile phone alerts to citizens in affected areas, instructing them to seek immediate shelter.
Mobile phone lines have been cut in parts of eastern and western Tehran, and internet connectivity has weakened in some areas, as per Iranian Media reports.
This direct strike follows weeks of high-stakes nuclear negotiations and mounting military posturing in the region. While the full scope and impact of the strike are still being assessed, the launch signals a significant retaliatory move in the broader confrontation between the two countries.