What They’re Saying About Operation Epic Fury—March 19, 2026
U.S.
“There’s a lot of [Iranian] military defections . . . I don’t blame them.”
“I told [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], ‘Don't do that [strike the South Pars gas field]’—and he won’t do that. We’re independent, but get along great. It’s coordinated, but on occasion he'll do something and if I don't like it—so we're not doing that.”
[In response to a journalist’s question, “Do you intend to potentially put U.S. troops, or more troops, in the region?”] “No, I'm not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you—but I’m not putting troops.”
President Donald Trump | Facebook
“I saw what was happening in Iran and I said, ‘I hate to make this excursion, but we’re going to have to do it.’ And I actually thought the numbers would be worse. I thought that [the price of oil] would go up more than it did. But we’re doing this excursion, and when it’s completed, we’re going to have a much safer world. . . . Iran is a serious threat . . . to the Middle East and to the world. So, I wanted to put out that fire and I said, you know, if I do that, oil prices will go up, the economy will go down a little bit. I thought it would be worse, much worse, actually. . . . It’s not bad.”
[In response to a journalist’s question, “Why didn't you tell U.S. allies . . . about the war before attacking Iran?”] “We wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?”
“We’ve had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything, and I believe that based on statements that were given to us yesterday . . . having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate [to help on Iran], yes.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth | X
“Yesterday at Dover Air Force, President Trump, the chairman [of the Joint Chiefs of Staff], and I stood in solemn silence as heroes came home. Flag-draped caskets. We honored them. We grieved with their families. And we listened. What I heard through tears, through hugs, through strength, and through unbreakable resolve was the same for family after family. They said: ‘Finish this. Honor their sacrifice. Do not waver. Do not stop until the job is done.’ My response, along with that of the president, was simple: ‘Of course we will finish this. We will honor their sacrifice. Their sacrifice only steels our commitment.’”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth | X
“To date, we've struck over 7,000 targets across Iran and its military infrastructure . . . Today will be the largest strike package yet. Our capabilities continue to build; Iran’s continue to degrade. We’re hunting and striking death and destruction from above.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth | X
“Epic Fury is different. It’s laser focused. It’s decisive. Our objectives, given directly from our America First President, remain exactly as they were on Day One . . . We’re winning—decisively and on our terms.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth | X
“This media here—not all of it, but much of it—wants you to think, just 19 days into this conflict, that we are somehow spinning toward an endless abyss, or a ‘forever war’ . . . nothing could be further from the truth.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine | X
“The U.S. military dropped 5,000lb. penetrator weapons into underground storage facilities storing coastal defense cruise missiles. We continue to hunt and kill mine storage facilities and naval ammunition depots and afloat assets, including more than 120 vessels and 44 minelayers. We’re flying further to the east now, and penetrating deeper into Iranian airspace to hunt and kill one-way attack garrisons, destroying Iran's ability to project power outside of its borders.”
“U.S. forces are destroying Iranian naval targets that threaten international shipping in and near the Strait of Hormuz.”
“Operation Epic Fury stands as a reminder of what the United States military uniquely delivers: the ability to project power on a global scale with speed, surprise, precision, and overwhelming force when and where our nation requires it.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe | X
“Iran possesses at least 440kg of uranium enriched to weapons-grade 60%—which doesn't have a civilian use. The only use for that would be the development of nuclear weapons.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent | X
“In the coming days, we may unsanction the Iranian oil that's on the water. It’s about 140 million barrels, so depending how you count it, that’s 10 days to 2 weeks of supply, that the Iranians had been pushing out, that would have all gone to China. In essence, we’d be using the Iranian barrels against the Iranians to keep the price down for the next 10 or 14 days, as we continue this campaign. So, we have lots of levers.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent | X
“I would be surprised if eventually there isn’t some kind of a global coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz. It would be very disappointing for those who benefit the most not to do something.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent | X
“"We are seeing defections at all levels as they’re starting to sense what’s going on with the regime. . . . The regime will probably collapse within itself. At @USTreasury, we’ve seen where they’ve wired their money out of the country. We’re coming for that. We're going to get it back to the Iranian people.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller | X
“The American military objective is to neuter the regime—to render them impotent. . . . @POTUS will not allow this regime—this bloodlusting regime—to hold us hostage with energy blackmail, with missile blackmail, or with nuclear blackmail.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton | X
“Iran has been killing Americans for 47 years. The Senate should reject the War Powers Resolution and support President Trump’s resolute actions against the Iran’s terrorist regime.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner | X
“Trump is now considering softening sanctions on a government [Iran] actively trying to kill U.S. servicemembers.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner | X
“Trump’s war of choice is widening and creating a worldwide energy crisis. We need leaders who understand the severity of the moment and can rise to the occasion. Not leaders who would rather feign ignorance than disagree with Trump.”
“I appreciate the recent joint statement by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan reinforcing their condemnation of Iran’s outrageous behavior, and its interference with freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, viciously attacking energy infrastructure and shipping vessels. It is imperative that we forever end the ability of the Iranian regime to terrorize the world, particularly vital international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz. Since 1979, this regime in Iran has been organized around a cult of death, not enlightenment. It is my hope that our allies will more aggressively collaborate with the Trump Administration so that we can move forward together to protect the freedom of navigation and reject the concept that our lives would be governed by threats from terrorist regimes.”
“The Iranian regime executed a 19 year old [champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi] for demanding democracy. I stand with his memory and the thousands of other young Iranians. Those who grieve the elimination of Iranian leaders over murdered protesters is telling.”
ISRAEL
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu | X
“Operation Roaring Lion is designed to remove the existential threats posed by the Ayatollah regime, the regime that has waged war against America and Israel and the people of Iran for 47 years. Our goals are three: One, removing the nuclear threat. Second, removing the ballistic missile threat and removing both of these threats before they're buried deep underground and become immune from aerial attack. And third, this means creating the conditions for the Iranian people to grasp their freedom, to control their destiny. . . . We’ve warned for decades their ballistic missile program would be used to attack targets far and wide, and if they’re not stopped, that's just the beginning. The death cult in Iran is trying to blackmail the world by closing a key intl. maritime route, the Straits of Hormuz. It won’t work. Israel is helping in its own way, in intel and other means, the American effort to open the straits of Hormuz. But I want to ask you to imagine how the Ayatollah regime would be able to blackmail the entire world if they had ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. . . . So today Israel and the United States are protecting America, Israel, the entire Middle East, but I venture to say the entire world. Despite the fake news that has unfortunately been spread since the start of the war 20 days ago, we are winning, and Iran is being decimated.”
“🔴ELIMINATED: Hassan Ali Marwan, the commander of the ‘Imam Hussein Division’ within a week of eliminating his predecessor. The “Imam Hussein Division” is a military force used by the Iranian Quds Force to advance the interests of the Iranian terror regime and to carry out attacks. Marwan was responsible for coordinating between the division and senior military officials in both Hezbollah and the Quds Force. In addition, he commanded over the launch of missiles, UAVs, and rockets toward Israel.”
“⚓️🎯IRANIAN NAVAL INFRASTRUCTURE STRUCK IN THE CASPIAN SEA
“Targets included:
• Iranian Navy vessels, including missile ships, support vessels boats, & guard ships.
• A port command center from which Iranian Navy forces controlled naval operations
• Central infrastructure used for vessel repair and maintenance”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar | X
“The claim that the operation in Iran violates international law is laughable. Is it a violation of the law to act against someone who seeks to destroy you and is working to acquire nuclear weapons for that purpose? Is it a violation of the law to defend yourself?”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar | X
“Strait of Hormuz is not an American or Israeli issue—it’s a global one. This is naval terrorism that harms the global economy. It began with the Houthis in the Red Sea, and now the Iranian regime itself is carrying it out.”
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X
“Tonight, a suicide drone struck near the synagogue in Odessa, causing significant damage. Iranian drones are attacking civilians in Europe and in the Middle East. This attack follows massive Russian drone and missile strikes on cities across Ukraine this week, in which many civilians were killed and wounded, and civilian institutions and infrastructure were damaged.”
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X
“Walin Chayut, a Thai national working in Israel was killed by an Iranian missile. The Iranian regime indiscriminately targets civilians.”
IRAN
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei | X
“Let the adversaries of Islam know that shedding the blood of such people [as Ali Larijani] at the foot of the mighty tree of the Islamic system will only make it stronger. And surely, every drop of blood has its due retribution that the criminal murderers of these martyrs will soon have to pay.”
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei | X
“The grievous news of the martyrdom of Major General Gholamreza Soleimani, Head of the Basij Forces, has caused profound sorrow. This eminent figure had long been active in struggle on the path of God & had accumulated extensive experience on this path. The assassination of this mujahid commander is a reminder of the immense importance of Basij & the spiteful, vile enemy’s intense fear of confronting it. I extend my condolences on this grievous loss to the honorable family of that exalted martyr, to all his colleagues in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and to all the dear members of the Basij—among whom I consider myself to be the least of them.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“According to statements by Israeli and American military officials, 320% of Iran's missile launchers have been destroyed so far. However, Iran continues to launch missiles at a high rate. Now, the enemy aims to destroy up to 500% of them! A unique achievement for the US military!”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“From the heart of this nation, thousands of martyrs like Khamenei, martyr Larijani, and martyr Pakpour will emerge; this is no exaggeration—look and see that another revolution has taken place and has seized street by street. Iran was asleep; you have awakened it. A storm will rise. A storm!”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“Last night, the people of Iran foiled all of the enemy’s designs. They are angry and frustrated with the people of Iran and, by attacking infrastructure, seek to conceal their battlefield defeats. Of course, this amounts to suicide for them. An eye for an eye equation is in effect, and a new level of confrontation has begun.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
“The cowardly assassination of my dear colleagues Ismail Khatib, Ali Larijani, and Aziz Nasirzadeh, alongside some of their family members and accompanying team, has left us in deep mourning. I extend my condolences to the great people of Iran for the martyrdom of two cabinet members, the secretary of the Shura, and the military and Basij commanders. I am certain their path will continue more steadfastly than before.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
“I strongly condemn attacking Iran’s energy infrastructure. Such aggressive acts will yield nothing for the Zionist–American enemy & their supporters. This will complicate the situation & could have uncontrollable consequences, the scope of which could engulf the entire world.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
The nature of the Zionist regime is state terrorism. Yet US aggression against Iran and the assassination of the martyred Leader sets a new precedent in international disputes that will destroy global legal norms. If the world fails to stand firm, its flames will burn many.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | X
“Our response to Israel’s attack on our infrastructure employed FRACTION of our power. The ONLY reason for restraint was respect for requested de-escalation. ZERO restraint if our infrastructures are struck again. Any end to this war must address damage to our civilian sites.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | X
“Israel has no regard for the repercussions of the normalization of its heinous methods of terror. But the international community should not disregard that recklessness; as for every action there will inevitably and always be a reaction.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | X
“We’re only three weeks into this war of choice, imposed on both Iranians and Americans. This $200b [in the Trump administration’s budget request to Congress for the war] is the tip of the iceberg. Ordinary Americans can thank Benjamin Netanyahu and his lackeys in Congress for the trillion-dollar ‘Israel First tax’ that's about to hit U.S. economy.”
THE LEADERS OF THE UK, FRANCE, GERMANY, ITALY, THE NETHERLANDS, JAPAN, AND CANADA
Joint Statement | UK Government Website
“We condemn in the strongest terms recent attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces. We express our deep concern about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817. . . . We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
GULF STATES
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Ministry Website
“His Highness the Foreign Minister expressed strong condemnation of the heinous Iranian aggressions against the Kingdom, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, and a number of other Arab, Islamic, and friendly nations. He further condemned the Iranian side’s persistence in destabilizing regional security and stability, its blatant violation of international charters and international law, and its threat to international peace and security. . . . His Highness added: ‘Iran had premeditated the heinous aggressions we are witnessing today. This behavior is not a matter of coincidence; rather, it is an extension of a historical record rooted in a strategy of extortion, as well as the sponsorship and support of militias to target neighboring states and destabilize them." His Highness the Foreign Minister explained that aggression against neighbors constitutes a violation of covenants and charters, running counter to the teachings of the true Islamic faith. Furthermore, the financing and arming of militias within Arab and Islamic nations do not serve Islamic unity but rather undermine it. His Highness the Foreign Minister emphasized the critical need for Iran to re-evaluate its miscalculations. Continuing to commit acts of aggression against regional states will yield no gains for Iran; instead, it will lead to counterproductive outcomes that exacerbate its suffering, exact a heavy political toll, and deepen its international isolation.”
“The UAE air defence systems on 19th March 2026 engaged 7 ballistic missiles and 15 UAVs launched from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 334 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,714 UAVs. These attacks have resulted in the martyrdom of 2 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, as well as 6 fatalities of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities.A total of 158 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe.”
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani | X
“This war must be stopped immediately, and the aggressions must be halted immediately because everyone knows who is the biggest beneficiary of this war and of dragging the region into this conflict, and unfortunately, what is happening now is serving these agendas.”
Qatari Ministry of Defense | X
“The Ministry of Defense of State of Qatar announces that State of Qatar was attacked ballistic missiles, from Iran, which targeted Ras Laffan Industrial City and caused damages.”
Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi | X
“Twice in nine months the United States and Iran have been on the verge of a real deal on the most difficult issue that divides them: Iran’s nuclear-energy programme and American fears that it could be a weapons programme. So it was a shock but not a surprise when on February 28th—just a few hours after the latest and most substantive talks—Israel and America again launched an unlawful military strike against the peace that had briefly appeared really possible.
Iran’s retaliation against what it claims are American targets on the territory of its neighbours was an inevitable, if deeply regrettable and completely unacceptable, result. Faced with what both Israel and America described as a war designed to terminate the Islamic Republic, this was probably the only rational option available to the Iranian leadership.”
EUROPE
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer | X
“I condemn in the strongest terms the overnight Iranian strike on a Qatari gas facility. We are working towards a swift resolution to the situation in the Middle East, in the best interests of the British people—because there is no question that ending the war is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living.”
French President Emmanuel Macron | X
“I have just spoken with the Emir of Qatar and President Trump following the strikes that hit gas production facilities in Iran and Qatar today. It is in our common interest to implement, without delay, a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, particularly energy and water supply facilities. Civilian populations and their essential needs, as well as the security of energy supplies, must be protected from military escalation.”
French President Emmanuel Macron | X
“It is time to open a path towards de-escalation in order to restore stability in the Middle East. France calls for the immediate implementation of a moratorium on strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, whether related to water or to energy. Freedom and security of navigation must be restored. As the region enters a period of religious celebrations and renewal, tempers must cool and hostilities must cease, in order to give a real chance to the prospect of a negotiated and sustainable solution.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz | X
“We are seeking transatlantic common ground. That’s why I have always made it clear: We share the USA’s important goals. But we must not—and we will not—shy away from telling our partners honestly where we see things differently and where we have different interests. Such a partnership must be able to withstand that. #Iran”
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas | X
“Iran's attacks on Qatar’s energy infrastructure are deepening the chaos. The war in the Middle East needs an exit, not an escalation. This is equally important for Ukraine, as Russia stands to gain from the Iran war.”
UKRAINE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | X
“Strikes by the remnants of the Iranian regime against Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and other countries are in essence strikes against global stability and Europe’s energy security. Ukraine is ready to join common security initiatives to stabilize the situation as quickly as possible. Ukraine has long proposed creating realistic and effective instruments to hold accountable those who block maritime trade routes, destroy normal navigation, and target energy infrastructure. Ukraine endured this winter under Russian strikes. The Middle East and the Gulf region are now facing the same evil. Russia and the Iranian regime are not helping each other by chance. They must be stopped, and it is the responsibility of every world leader to ensure real stability and guarantee security. Together, we are undoubtedly stronger.”
INDIA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi | X
“Spoke with my brother, H.H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and conveyed warm Eid greetings to him and the people of Qatar. Reiterated that we stand in solidarity with Qatar and strongly condemn the attacks on the region’s energy infrastructure. . . . We stand for safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.”
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