U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, after Israel and the United States began an attack on Iran, stated in an interview with the Washington Post that he wishes freedom for the people of Iran, LETA reports citing THE HILL.
"All I want is freedom for the people," said the U.S. president in a phone interview with the publication.
"I want a safe country, and we will have it," Trump stated.
In a previously published video on the "Truth Social" platform, the U.S. president announced that "major military operations" had begun in Iran and called for a regime change.
"Our goal is to protect the American people by eliminating the acute threat posed by the Iranian regime — a very brutal group of harsh, terrible people," Trump said.
The U.S. president also urged Iranian military personnel to lay down their arms and called on the people of Iran to overthrow the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Bombs will fall everywhere. When we are done, take power. It will be in your hands. This may be your only chance in many generations," Trump stated.
"America supports you with tremendous strength and destructive power," the president said.
"Now is the time to take control of your destiny," the U.S. president urged.
On Saturday, Israel and the U.S. began an attack on Iran, resulting in missile strikes affecting both Tehran and several other cities.
Iran is retaliating against Israel as well as the U.S. military in Bahrain and other countries in the Persian Gulf region.
In Israel, one person sustained minor injuries during an attempt by air defense forces to intercept Iranian missiles.
During a missile strike by Iran in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, one person was killed.
In Minab, in southern Iran, a girls' elementary school was destroyed in a missile strike. The attack resulted in 51 fatalities, according to the IRNA agency.
At the time of the strike, 170 people were in the building, so it is possible that the final death toll will be higher.
