On February 28, 2026, Al Jazeera reported that US President Donald Trump made a short but firm statement to The Washington Post, marking his first public remarks since releasing a video message on Truth Social in which he called on Iranians to rise up against their government. His comments came as tensions intensified, with coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeting sites in Iran and Iranian missile attacks reported across the region. Trump characterized the military campaign as an effort aimed at protecting both freedom and national security.
In his remarks, Trump said his primary goal was to see the Iranian people live in freedom and to ensure safety and stability. He maintained that the ongoing actions were intended to secure a safer future. His statement was delivered against the backdrop of growing reports of civilian casualties.
Iranian state media reported that more than 50 people, many of them young students, were killed in an airstrike on an elementary school in Minab, a city in Hormozgan province in southern Iran. The attack has drawn widespread attention and condemnation. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, described the strike as a daytime bombing of a school filled with children. He shared images from the scene showing extensive destruction and pledged that Iran would respond. According to updated figures from state outlets, at least 53 students lost their lives, while rescue teams continued searching through the debris.
In his earlier video address, Trump appealed directly to the Iranian public, suggesting that the current moment could represent a rare opportunity for political change. He argued that sustained military pressure was necessary to counter what he described as a serious threat posed by Iran’s military capabilities and nuclear ambitions.See_More…