President Trump demanded that those left in Iran’s regime lay down their arms or face “certain death” while cautioning that more US troops were likely to die after three were killed during Iran’s response to the Saturday assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military, the police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity, or face certain death,” Trump said in a video message posted to Truth Social Sunday.
“It will be certain death,” he added. “It won’t be pretty.”
Follow The Post’s live coverage of the United States’ airstrikes on Iran
The president also pledged that the US-Israeli strikes on Iran won’t end until all objectives were achieved, insisting the attacks were part of a “righteous mission” to keep the US and the world safe from Iran-sponsored terrorism.
“They are the world’s number one state sponsor of terror,” he said. “We are the world’s greatest and most powerful nation, so we can do something about what they do.
“This is the duty and burden of a free people,” Trump added. “These actions are right, and they are necessary to ensure that America will never have to face a radical and bloodthirsty regime armed with nuclear weapons and lots of threats.”
Ayatollah Khamenei was killed Saturday along with over 40 of his top government and military officials by a sprawling strike from US and Israeli forces.
A campaign of bombardments followed for hours after, while Iran responded by slinging its own missiles and drones across the region.
Three US troops were killed by Iran in that response, which targeted American soldiers stationed in the region.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the United States’ airstrikes on Iran:
Trump warned that more Americans were likely to be killed before victory over Iran was achieved — which he estimated to take around four weeks.
“Sadly, there will likely be more before it ends,” the president said Sunday. “That’s the way it is. Likely be more. But we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case.”
“America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against basically civilization,” he added.
It remains unclear how or where the three US service members were killed.
“As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” Trump said.
“We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen.”
