Special Report: US and Israel Strike Iran

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1:48The U.S. and Israel have launched a major combat operation in Iran. We're now learning it's called Operation Epic Fury, targeting a number of Islamic Republic locations overnight in and around Tehran. President Trump announcing the strikes on Truth Social. 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, many countries. Iran has hit back with airstrikes on multiple targets in Israel, as well as missile attacks on a U.S. base in Bahrain. The United Arab Emirates says it successfully intercepted Iranian missiles.

2:29All of this following weeks of failed talks with Iran for a fresh agreement on its 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. I'll say it again, they can never have a nuclear weapon. President Trump accused the Iranian regime of trying to rebuild its nuclear arsenal after the attacks by the U.S. and Israel last June. This morning's message is also the first time the president's offered a more than cursory rationale for his decision to amass U.S. forces in the region and acknowledged there could be U.S.

3:07casualties. Trump also urged the Iranian people to rise up against its government. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also weighed in through an interpreter this morning and says they're carrying out the joint operation to remove what he calls the existential threat posed by Iran's regime.

3:46Together with the United States, we will strike hard at the terror regime and create conditions that will allow the brave Iranian people to rid themselves of this murderous regime. Retired Colonel Steve Ganyard is former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. We're getting preliminary reports of what appears to be decapitation strikes within Tehran, going after the leadership in Tehran, going after not only the theocracy but the military leadership in Tehran. Further nuclear negotiations involving Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff were expected next week in Vienna, but it's unclear now whether those talks will go on as planned, since U.S.

4:25officials have said this operation against Iran could last days. The European Union called for diplomacy this morning and says it's coordinating closely now with Arab partners to explore diplomatic paths. Michael Clark is a security analyst and visiting professor at King's College in London. He says Trump's statement was clear. He's going for broke, and he didn't say the word regime change, but that's what he means. He's absolutely decided that the United States, with Israel, is going to take down the mullahs of Tehran. Today, Donald Trump has gone to war. Meantime, OPEC Plus members are set to meet tomorrow to discuss the option of a larger oil supply increase.

5:03They'd agreed to keep supplies steady through March, but these attacks on Iran could now escalate production increases. Members had added monthly increases of 137 ,000 barrels a day in the fourth quarter. We'd like to play you the president's entire message now. It's eight minutes and was posted this morning on Truth Social. A short time ago, the United States 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. Its menacing activities directly endanger the United States, our troops, our bases overseas, and our allies throughout the world.

5:54For 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, many countries. Among the regime's very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days. In 1983, Iran's proxies carried out the marine barracks bombing in Beirut that killed 241 American military personnel. In 2000, they knew and were probably involved with the attack on the USS Cole. Many died. Iranian forces killed and maimed hundreds of American service members in Iraq.

6:48The regime's proxies have continued to launch countless attacks against American forces stationed in the Middle East in recent years, as well as U.S. naval and commercial vessels in international shipping lands. It's been mass terror, and we're not going to put up with it any longer. From Lebanon to Yemen and Syria to Iraq, the regime has armed, trained, and funded terrorist militias that have soaked the earth with blood and guts. And it was Iran's proxy, Hamas, that launched the monstrous October 7th attacks on Israel, slaughtering more than 1 ,000 innocent people, including 46 Americans, while taking 12 of our citizens hostage.

7:37It was brutal. Something like the world has never seen before. 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. That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime's nuclear program at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. After After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons.

8:28And 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've 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 rage missiles that can now threaten our very good friends and allies in europe our troops stationed overseas and could soon reach the American homeland.

9:17Just imagine how emboldened this regime would be if they ever had and actually were armed with nuclear weapons as a means to deliver their message. 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 are going to destroy their missiles and raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated. We're going to annihilate their navy. We're going to ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region or the world and attack our forces and no longer use their IEDs or roadside bombs, as they are sometimes called to so gravely wound and kill thousands and thousands of people, including many Americans.

10:19And we will ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. It's a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States 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. My administration has taken every possible step to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel in the region. Even so, and I do not make this statement lightly, the Iranian regime seeks to kill. The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties that often happens in war.

11:14But we're doing this not for now. We're doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission. We pray for every service member as they selflessly risk their lives to ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear-armed Iran. We ask God to protect all of our heroes in harm's way, and we trust that, with his help, the men and women of the armed forces will prevail. We have the greatest in the world, and they will prevail. 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.

12:03So, lay down your arms. You will be treated fairly with total immunity or you will face certain death. 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. 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.

12:49So let's see how you respond. 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. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass. May God bless the brave men and women of America's armed forces. May God bless the United States of America. May God bless you all. Thank you. That was President Trump's entire eight-minute message on the U.S. and Israel's attacks on Iran overnight. The strikes follow weeks of failed talks to reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran has insisted it's not pursuing.

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14:36That's Bloomberg this weekend, Saturdays and Sundays starting at 7 a.m. Eastern on February 28th. Make us part of your weekend routine on Bloomberg Television, radio and wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone, it's Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson from the Legally Brunette podcast. Each week, we're bringing you true crime through a legal lens. Whether you want all the facts on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, or you still need to wrap your head around the ditty verdict, we're breaking it all down step by step. And we're not just lawyers, we're also husband and wife. It makes for some pretty entertaining episodes.

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