What They’re Saying About Operation Epic Fury—March 20, 2026
U.S.
President Donald Trump | MS NOW
“‘I think I could leave right now and it would take them 10 years to rebuild. But I don’t think that’s an acceptable situation,” Trump told Stephanie Ruhle, host of “The 11th Hour.” ‘If we stay longer, they’ll never rebuild.’ . . . The president . . . told Ruhle that regime change wasn’t a primary goal of the offensive. He said that the U.S. could “possibly” influence who controls the Iranian government, but it was not his top priority. ‘The major thing is that they cannot have a nuclear weapon,’ Trump told Ruhle. . . . Trump added that he did not want Ukraine’s help fighting Iran, dismissing President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s offer to contribute to the U.S. and Europe’s effort to protect military bases in the Persian Gulf region. ‘I don’t need to help,’ Trump said, adding about Zelenskyy, with whom his relationship is fraught: ‘He’s doing that for political reasons.’”
“We’re doing extremely well in Iran . . . They had a navy 2 weeks ago. They have no navy anymore. It’s all at the bottom of the sea. 58 ships knocked down in 2 days . . . We’re not going to let them have nuclear weapons because if they had them, they’d use them, and we’re not going to let that happen.”
“U.S. forces continue to degrade Iranian combat capabilities by striking military targets deep inside Iran.”
ISRAEL
“❗️What you see here is the result of Iranian missile fire. The Old City in Jerusalem, right near the Temple Mount, was impacted by Iranian missile fragments. The Iranian regime once again proves they fire indiscriminately—whether at civilian areas or holy sites—all with the intention of destroying the State of Israel.”
“🔴ELIMINATED: Mehdi Rastami Sh’mastan, a key commander in the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence. Sh’mastan was a key figure in promoting terrorist activities and attacks against Israeli and Jewish civilians around the world. The Ministry of Intelligence is the Iranian terror regime’s primary intelligence organization and serves as one of the regime’s central mechanisms of oppression and terror.”
“🔴ELIMINATED: Esmail Ahmadi, Head of the Intelligence Division of the Basij Force, as well as several other senior commanders in a strike on the senior leadership of the Basij Force in the heart of Tehran. Ahmadi played a central role in advancing and executing terror attacks carried out by Basij Forces. He was also responsible for enforcing public order and the regime’s values on behalf of the IRGC and leading major suppression operations during the recent internal protests in Iran.”
“🔴ELIMINATED: Ali Mohammad Naini, the Spokesperson and Head of the Public Relations Array of the IRGC. Naini served in several propaganda and public relations roles. In his role as the IRGC’s main propagandist for the past 2 years, he disseminated the regime’s terrorist propaganda to its proxies across the Middle East in order to influence and advance terror attacks against Israel.”
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X
“The Iranian ‘gift’ for Eid al-Fitr: Missiles on Al-Aqsa. The Iranian attack on the holy sites sacred to all three religions reveals the madness of the Iranian regime, which claims to be religious.”
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X
“The Iranian regime’s missiles target civilian populations, striking even the Church of the Holy Sepulchre compound in Jerusalem. Nothing is sacred to this terror regime. Israel acts to protect worshippers of all faiths.”
IRAN
“In the past year, our dear people have experienced three military and security wars. The first war was the June [2025] war . . . The second war was the January Coup, when the United States and the Zionist regime, thinking that the Iranian people were implementing the enemy’s vision due to the economic problems imposed by them, used their mercenaries to create countless disasters and martyred more of our dear fellow citizens than in the in the previous war and caused a lot of damage. . . . The third war is the war that we are now in the middle of . . . [O]ne of the enemy’s courses of action is his media operations, which in these days, in particular, intends to undermine national unity and consequently national security by targeting the minds and souls of some among the people. We must be careful lest this sinister intention be realized as a result of negligence and by our own hands. Therefore, my advice to our country’s domestic media, with all the intellectual, political, and cultural differences they may have, is to seriously refrain from focusing on weaknesses. Otherwise, it is possible for the enemy to reach its goal.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“The F-35 was not just a fighter jet but a statue of the U.S. military's invincibility and arrogance. A theological symbol claimed to be invisible to any eye and superior to any power; but the hand of God is above their hands. This symbol was struck for the first time in the world, yet God cast. And this was the moment of collapse of an order.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“The new year, by the grace and aid of God, will be the year of victory for the proud and heroic nation of Iran and the year of defeat and being slapped for anyone who seeks to destroy our Iran, dearer to us than life itself; As the end of this final feast is sweet, Chant the name of Iran, which slays the foe. #Nowruz”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | X
“Americans haven’t forgotten how, even as hundreds of U.S. soldiers were dying in Vietnam, and the outcome was already clear, General William Westmoreland was flown home to reassure everyone that the war was going well—that the U.S. was ‘winning.’ The media haven’t forgotten either; those briefings full of fantasy from the frontlines became infamous as the ‘Five O’Clock Follies.’ Fast forward to today: same script, different stage; Hegseth steps up, and the message is still detached from reality. U.S. government says one thing, reality says another[. ] Right as U.S. authorities claim Iran’s air defences [are] gone, an F-35 gets hit. As they declare Iran’s navy finished, USS Gerald Ford turns back, and USS Abraham Lincoln drifts farther away
Different decade, same ‘we’re winning’[.]”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | X
“We are men and women of principles. Iranians do not sneak attack adversaries while engaged in dialogue. Only when attacked do we powerfully respond. We have intelligence on Israeli plans to strike infrastructure. Once again: ZERO restraint if our infrastructure is attacked.”
GULF STATES
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman | X
“I was pleased to meet with the leaders of the Ministry of Defense and its senior officials, and to congratulate them on the Blessed Eid al-Fitr. I also conveyed the congratulations and greetings of the Leadership—may God support it—and its appreciation for the heroic role of our armed forces in defending the homeland and confronting the unjust Iranian aggression.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan | X
“Any interference with freedom of navigation constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security.”
“The UAE air defence systems on 20th March 2026 engaged 4 ballistic missiles and 26 UAVs launched from Iran. Since the onset of the blatant Iranian aggression, UAE air defences have engaged 338 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,740 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.”
EUROPE
French President Emmanuel Macron | X
“We remain resolute. This morning in the Mediterranean, the French Navy intercepted and boarded another vessel from the shadow fleet, the Deyna. The war involving Iran will not deflect France from its support for Ukraine, where Russia’s war of aggression continues unabated. These vessels, which evade international sanctions and violate the law of the sea, are profiteers of war. They line their pockets while helping finance Russia’s war effort. We will not allow it.”
British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper | Independent
“The Foreign Office said that during a call, Ms Cooper had ‘warned Iran against targeting UK bases, territory or interests directly”’and condemned the country’s ‘reckless attacks’ on Gulf partners and critical energy infrastructure.”
RUSSIA
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Foreign Ministry Website
“Moscow is gravely concerned about the continued armed confrontation in the Persian Gulf and the risks of further escalation. The scale of damage to energy and other critical infrastructure in Iran and neighbouring Arab states is increasing.”
UKRAINE
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | X
“I sincerely congratulate the people of Iran and all those celebrating this holiday today on the occasion of Nowruz. Ukraine wishes the people of Iran true freedom and security. By ridding itself of this horrific terrorist regime, Iran can become a peaceful and prosperous society, as it once was. It is therefore important that, after this war, justice and reconstruction be achieved for the people of Iran and the entire region.”
INDIA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi | X
“Had a fruitful discussion with the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Conveyed warm greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr to him and the people of Bahrain. We discussed the current situation in the West Asian region. Condemned attacks on the energy and civilian infrastructure in the region, underscoring their adverse impact on global food, fuel and fertilizer security. Reiterated the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure.”
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