Khamenei, 86, an ideological hard-liner who was one of Iran’s longest-serving leaders and a lifelong foe of both the U.S. and Israel, took power in 1989. In the nearly 40 years that followed, he ruthlessly put down public demonstrations and silenced dissidents who challenged his rule.
In recent months, Iran had been gripped by nationwide protests fueled by widespread economic discontent and fury with the government. The country has seen periodic civilian demonstrations over the years, including some focused on the regime’s treatment of women.
Trump administration officials planned to brief lawmakers on the military attack Sunday, including members of the Senate and House intelligence, armed services and foreign affairs committees, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The U.S. previously struck Iran in June amid a different round of nuclear talks.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said in an eight-minute video message on Truth Social as the bombardment was underway.
The administration was taking “every possible step” to minimize the risk to U.S. personnel, Trump added, but he warned that the lives of “courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties.”
“That often happens in war,” he added.
Two U.S. officials told NBC News that Israel had been tasked with targeting Iranian leaders while the U.S. went after Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
Top congressional Democrats blasted Trump’s decision to launch military actions in Iran, arguing that the strikes required congressional approval, while most Republicans praised the action.
European powers condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes on countries in the Middle East, with the leaders of the U.K., Germany and France urging Tehran in a joint statement to resume negotiations.
Trump said the military campaign would not end until peace was reached in the region.
“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” he wrote.
