What They're Saying About Operation Epic Fury—April 2, 2016
U.S.
President Donald Trump | Associated Press
“As I stated in my announcement of Operation Epic Fury, our objectives are very simple and clear. We are systematically dismantling the regime’s ability to threaten America or reject power outside of their borders. That means eliminating Iran’s navy, which is now absolutely destroyed, hurting their air force and their missile program at levels never seen before and annihilating their defense industrial base. We’ve done all of it. Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Their missiles are just about used up or beaten. Taken together, these actions will cripple Iran’s military, crush their ability to support terrorist proxies and deny them the ability to build a nuclear bomb. Our armed forces have been extraordinary. There’s never been anything like it militarily. Everyone is talking about it. And tonight, I’m pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion.”
President Donald Trump | Associated Press
“So to those countries that can’t get fuel, many of which refuse to get involved in the decapitation of Iran — we had to do it ourselves — I have a suggestion. No. 1, buy oil from the United States of America. We have plenty. We have so much. And No. 2, build up some delayed courage. Should have done it before. Should have done it with us as we asked. Go to the straight and just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves. Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done, so it should be easy. And in any event, when this conflict is over, the strait will open up naturally. It’ll just open up naturally. They’re going to want to be able to sell oil because that’s all they have to try and rebuild. It will resume the flowing and the gas prices will rapidly come back down. Stock prices will rapidly go back up.”
President Donald Trump | Associated Press
“We are going to hit them [Iran] extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We’re going to bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong. In the meantime, discussions are ongoing. Regime change was not our goal. We never said regime change, but regime change has occurred because of all of their original leaders’ death. They’re all dead. The new group is less radical and much more reasonable. Yet if during this period of time no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets. If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously. We have not hit their oil, even though that’s the easiest target of all, because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding. But we could hit it and it would be gone.”
President Donald Trump | Truth Social
“The biggest bridge in Iran comes tumbling down, never to be used again — Much more to follow! IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF WHAT STILL COULD BECOME A GREAT COUNTRY!”
Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper | X
“Now in our 5th week of the campaign, it is my operational assessment that we are making undeniable progress. We don’t see their navy sailing. We don’t see their aircraft flying, and their air and missile defense systems have largely been destroyed.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner | Press Release
“President Trump’s address tonight did little to answer the most basic questions the American people deserve when our nation is engaged in a costly and dangerous conflict with Iran. From the outset, this administration has offered a moving target of justifications for this war of choice – none matched by the serious planning required to manage its predictable consequences. Americans are already feeling the impact at the pump, alongside rising prices for diesel, fertilizer, aluminum, and other essentials, with consequences that will continue to ripple through the economy for a long time to come. We are told there is a new regime in Iran, but there is no evidence it is any better – and in many ways it may be worse. There is still no clear plan to secure Iran’s nuclear material, its ballistic missile capabilities remain a threat, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. At the same time, the administration is easing oil sanctions in a way that is sending billions of dollars back to the very regime we are confronting.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen | Press Release
“From the start, the goals of this war have changed, the strategy remains unclear and it has only exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis for everyday Americans. President Trump owes the American people an explanation as to why we are fighting this war. We did not get that tonight. It is increasingly clear that this reckless war has not made us stronger and the ever-changing goals have not been met. Instead, 13 U.S. service members are dead. Tens of thousands more are in harm’s way. Thousands of civilians across the region have been killed or injured. U.S. embassies, military bases and businesses have been attacked, critical infrastructure across the region has been destroyed and the Strait of Hormuz is closed. We are, sadly, not safer nor more prosperous as a country for having waged this war. Administration officials, including Secretary Rubio, must come before Congress and answer the questions that went unanswered tonight.”
House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks | Press Release
“Tonight’s address made two facts clear: this was a war of choice, not necessity, and Trump still has no clear plan for how it will end. No amount of bluster or wild claims changes those facts. . . . while the administration may point to degraded Iranian capabilities, this war may yet leave us facing a more dangerous, unstable, and hostile Iran -- one that is militarily weaker, but significantly more desperate, radicalized, and willing to escalate against the U.S. and our allies. We are already seeing the consequences: rising regional instability, historic pressure on global energy markets, and growing risks to U.S. personnel and our allies. And yet, there is still no clear plan for what comes next. The American people deserve more than vague declarations of success. They deserve a comprehensive strategy that prevents further escalation, protects our interests, and pursues a durable path to peace. Without that, this costly and chaotic war risks becoming not a solution, but the beginning of a more dangerous chapter.”
“In @POTUS @RealDonaldTrump’s powerful speech last night, he explained his bold and decisive actions to end the Iranian regime’s metastasizing threats. America’s objectives are clear: to destroy the Iranian’s missile, naval, and air force capabilities and to obliterate any pathway for the terrorist regime to build nuclear weapons. President Trump will always defend the national security and interests of the American people.”
“Pete Hegseth sent U.S. troops to fight and die in Iran. Was he trying to cash in on the war behind closed doors? This would be a massive betrayal. I’m pressing for a full investigation NOW.”
“Radical Iranian Mullahs with an apocalyptic vision can’t be allowed to hide behind a massive conventional shield of missiles & drones while on the quest for a nuke. President Trump made the right call—strike now while we still can in the interest of long-term peace & stability.”
ISRAEL
“🎯STRUCK: Central headquarters of the IRGC in Tehran used for managing budgets for terror activities worldwide. Funds were routed through these headquarters for 2 central purposes:
• Funding and strengthening Iran’s armed forces, by producing thousands of ballistic missiles, weapons, & the regime’s armed forces.
• Funding dozens of billions of dollars to Iranian terror regime’s proxies across the Middle East such as, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi terror organizations.”
“STRUCK: An IRGC Ground Forces base and a mobile command post used by regime commanders in Tehran. Additionally, a ballistic missile storage site belonging to the missile unit in the Tabriz area was also struck.”
IRAN
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“We followed the money. Last week, a handful of bankers and hedge funds met, decided to hold Washington’s Iran war policy hostage, then launched a campaign. Name names?
- Yes
- Nah
- Ackman here: Invite lost?”
IRGC Aerospace Commander Majid Moosavi | X
“Have you prepared your tombstones? @petehegset P.S: Destruction of the assembly center of the terrorist US army’s air squadron at the Al-Kharj base in Saudi Arabia”
“The Strait of Hormuz must be opened”
“We will escort the ships”
“NATO should help open the Strait of Hormuz”
“The Strait of Hormuz will be opened within the next 48 hours”
“I will extend the deadline by another 5 days”
“Why isn’t NATO helping to open the strait?”
“Countries wanting oil should go open the Strait of Hormuz themselves”
"This is the narrative of America’s gradual retreat and the collapse of its president’s illusions."
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei | X
“Heartbreaking, cruel, despicable, and utterly outrageous: the American-Israeli aggressors have attacked the Pasteur Institute of Iran — the oldest and most prestigious research and public health center in Iran and the entire Middle East, founded in 1920 through an agreement between the Pasteur Institute of Paris and the Iranian government. This is not merely another war crime committed as part of an illegal war; it is a barbaric assault on basic human core values.”
GULF STATES
“The UAE air defenses (April 2, 2026) engaged 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones originating from Iran. Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, the UAE air defenses have engaged 457 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,038 drones. These attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, in addition to the martyrdom of a Moroccan national civilian contracted with the armed forces, and the killing of 9 civilians of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, and Indian nationalities.
UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
“His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates will demand its rights in response to the Iranian terrorist aggressions, emphasizing that Tehran does not have the right to close the Strait of Hormuz under international law, and that any attempt to impose transit fees through the strait constitutes ‘piracy.’ His Excellency stressed that the United Arab Emirates has prior preparations for such scenarios thanks to the leadership’s vision of the situation in the region, and the proactivity of analysis and readiness.”
Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X
“The State of Qatar has sent a 10th identical letter to HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, and HE Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of April, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, regarding the latest developments of the Iranian attack on its territories. This attack constitutes a blatant violation of its national sovereignty, a direct threat to its security and territorial integrity, and an unacceptable escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.”
“The General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force announces that the air defense systems of the Bahrain Defense Force, by the grace of God, and then by the vigilance of its men, continue to confront successive waves of Iranian terrorist criminal aggression targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
LEBANON
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam | X
“A month has passed since a devastating war, which we warned against and which most Lebanese feared would erupt, seeing it as imposed on our country. A month has passed since the Cabinet announced its total rejection of any military action outside the legitimate state institutions, and affirmed that the decision of war and peace must remain exclusively in the hands of the state. And today, I see it as incumbent upon me, and upon the Cabinet, to renew our vigilance in sparing Lebanon further tragedies and losses resulting from the aggression against its sovereignty and its cities and villages. I also renew our commitment to employing all available means to stop the war.”
EUROPE
EU Commission President Ursala von der Leyen | X
Iran’s actions are putting global economic stability at risk. We will work with our partners to ensure freedom of navigation can resume as soon as possible.
“RAF Regiment gunners, operating in a high-threat area, successfully downed multiple Iranian drones overnight. Next week, the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters will convene a meeting of military planners to discuss viable options to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe for navigation. UK Typhoons and F-35 jets, together with Wildcat helicopters, have continued their defensive missions across the region overnight. “
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves | BBC News
“I'm angry that Donald Trump has chosen to go to war in the Middle East—a war that there's not a clear plan of how to get out of. It's why we didn't want to enter this."
Finnish President Alexander Stubb | X
“I had a call with President of Iran, @drpezeshkian. We discussed the situation in Iran and the Middle East. A ceasefire and a diplomatic solution are urgently needed. I emphasized the need to end the strikes on neighbouring countries and restore freedom of navigation in the Strait Hormuz. Despite the disagreements, it is important to maintain dialogue.
LATIN AMERICA
Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship | Ministry Website
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship informs that the Argentine Republic has declared Mr. Mohsen Soltani Tehrani, Counselor and Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of the Islamic Republic of Iran, persona non grata, in accordance with Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and he must leave the national territory within 48 hours. This decision is in response to the statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which contains false, offensive, and unfounded accusations against the Argentine Republic and its highest authorities. These statements constitute unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of our country and a deliberate misrepresentation of decisions adopted in accordance with international law and national law. This latest egregious act adds to the Islamic Republic of Iran's persistent refusal to cooperate with Argentine justice in the investigation of the AMIA bombing, as well as its repeated non-compliance with international arrest and extradition orders for those responsible. Furthermore, the appointment of individuals wanted by Argentine justice to high-ranking positions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is particularly serious.”
AUSTRALIA
“Ahead of tonight’s meeting with international counterparts, I spoke with @AnitaAnandMP
about the conflict and its impact on global energy markets. We all want to see safe passage restored through the Strait of Hormuz and an end to it being held hostage by the Iranian regime.”
UNITED NATIONS
Secretary-General António Guterres | X
"My message is clear: To the US and Israel, it’s high time to stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering and already triggering devastating economic consequences. To Iran, to stop attacking their neighbours.”
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