What They’re Saying About Operation Epic Fury—March 25, 2026
U.S.
Central Command Commander Adm. Brad Cooper | X
“We’re in the fourth week of a campaign and remain on plan or ahead of plan in achieving very clear military objectives for eliminating Iran’s ability to project power in meaningful ways outside its borders.”
“🚫FALSE: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a U.S. F/A-18 fighter was struck over Chabahar using new advanced air defense systems.
“✅TRUE: No U.S. fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran.”
“U.S. forces are striking targets to degrade the Iranian regime’s military infrastructure and capabilities that have threatened American troops and regional partners for decades.”
Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker | X
“We’ve been in overdrive here [regarding the Strait of Hormuz crisis] diplomatically, pushing our allies . . . Unfortunately, it took some convincing that this is more important to them than it is to the United States. . . . We have allies that are finally stepping up.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt | X
“[Talks with Iran] are productive, as @POTUS said on Monday, and they continue to be . . . I would caution reporters in this room from reporting about speculative points or speculative plans from anonymous sources . . . Some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt | X
“The remaining elements of the Iranian regime have another opportunity to cooperate with President Trump. . . . There does not need to be any more death and destruction, but if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment . . . @POTUS will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt | X
“President Trump is doing this [Operation Epic Fury] for the American people, so we are no longer threatened by a rogue terrorist regime in the Middle East that seeks to kill the brave men and women who serve our country in the Middle East.”
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers | Politico
““We want to know more about what’s going on, what the options are, and why they’re being considered. And we’re just not getting enough answers on those questions. . . . That’s what I conveyed to [Pentagon officials] at the end of this hearing, is this has consequences if you don’t remedy it. . . . We just wanted them to tell us what’s the plan, and we didn’t get any answers. I understand they can’t give us, they shouldn’t give us, specific operational details. But generally, we should be able to get more texture than we’re receiving from them.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner | X
“Troops on the ground in Iran for another endless ground war in the Middle East? Well, Trump kinda says no, but then why in the hell is he sending the 82nd Airborne, paratroopers, two large detachments of Marines, who are all coming to the region? To take over Iran’s Kharg Island, where their energy infrastructure is? Or is it really going to be to put troops on the ground and try to get the enriched uranium out? Either one of these would be such a dramatic escalation . . . We would have losses, huge losses, on any military bases, and you could still have a huge accident with trying to get these canisters [of enriched uranium], which are very unstable, out to some secure place. I would think if the president is going to put us deeper into this war, he owes the American people and Congress an explanation.”
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner | X
“By lifting Iranian sanctions, Trump is allowing a $14 billion giveaway to a government actively trying to kill Americans—and it’s not likely to lower your gas prices much at all.”
“Not only do I support @POTUS and his team’s efforts to negotiate with Iran to find a solution to the threats this regime presents to the region and the world, I encourage it. It is the outcome I seek, not the method. I have confidence in President Trump’s negotiating team to make sure that any deal would meet the military objectives laid out early on. . . . If diplomacy can achieve these objectives, I would not only support it, but I would also prefer it because war literally is hell.”
“Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, along with its top leadership, have been hit hard. More must be done to further degrade the regime and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tough challenges remain ahead, but the progress of this operation has been remarkable, and I am so proud of our men and women in uniform.”
ISRAEL
“STRUCK: 2 key naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran. IAF fighter jets targeted facilities used by the Iranian regime to develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles capable of destroying targets at sea and on land.”
“STRUCK: Iran’s central explosives production facility in Isfahan, used by the regime to develop materials for weapons. The site had been previously targeted, and recent efforts to restore its capabilities were identified. In parallel, dozens of additional targets were struck, including ballistic missile launch sites, weapons production facilities and air defense systems.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar | X
“In a briefing I just held with the foreign ambassadors serving in Israel, I called on their countries to expel Iran's ambassadors from their lands, as the Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced yesterday it would do. The strike on the Diego Garcia base demonstrates that the Iranian regime has consistently lied about the range of its missiles, including during this war. This further shows that the missile range of the Iranian regime threatens not only Israel and the countries of the region, but all of Europe as well.”
IRAN
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“Based on some data, Iran's enemies, with the support of one of the regional countries, are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands. All enemy movements are under the full surveillance of our armed forces. If they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf | X
“We are closely monitoring all US movements in the region, especially troop deployments. What the generals have broke, the soldiers can’t fix; instead, they will fall victim to Netanyahu’s delusions. Do not test our resolve to defend our land.”
IRGC Aerospace Commander Majid Moosavi | X
“Trump must learn that every threat and ultimatum against Iran is part of an act of war. The strikes by the fighters on the strategic points of Dimona and Haifa in recent hours, separate from pursuing Iran's military strategy, were a clear message in response to the American 2-day and 5-day threats.”
“The one who once spoke of regime change and the fragmentation of Iran now hopes that someone in Iran will engage in dialogue with him; though this, too, is merely an attempt at deception.”
“The Iranian nation is fully aware that the enemy cannot be trusted; the experiences of recent years stand as clear proof of this reality. For the United States, negotiation has, above all, been a tool of deception.”
“When the enemy becomes incapacitated in terms of hardware capabilities and the pressure reaches the rear of its camp, it enters the field of deception and trickery; this is a recurring rule in history.”
“Our nation does not accept the shadow of threat; we must reach a point where the enemy, even if it so desires, is incapable of disrupting the security of our people. The issue is not merely halting aggression; it is ensuring that the aggressor regrets it.”
“We must reach the point of sustainable security. Sustainable security is not when someone agrees to it and then reneges on it tomorrow! As the dear martyr, Mr. Larijani . . . put it: ‘The other side said, ‘I was tempted to attack!’ Is the security of a nation subject to the temptations of an individual?!’”
Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters Spokesperson | X
“The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to what it was. What happens will be what we decide. We have reset transit rules. The law is clear: you and those tied to you have no right of passage. Permission is ours. . . . The more you try to avoid prolonging the war, the stronger our resistance becomes. You are reaching your own conclusions and agreeing to negotiations yourselves. Look at our people on the battlefield, there is only determination and resolve to fight.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
“The President of the Republic of Turkey, my esteemed brother, His Excellency R.T. Erdoğan's resolute stance in condemning the aggressive Zionist regime is truly commendable. The brotherly Turkish nation has, for many long years, assumed an important role in solidarity with the Islamic ummah. We shall continue along this honorable path, together with divine grace.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian | X
“As our martyred Leader emphasized, we firmly believe that in the country's major issues, a ‘single voice’ must be heard. Today as well, in the matter of war and its management, all decision-making bodies, under the guidance of the esteemed Leader, are united and in harmony, speaking with one voice. This unity is the backbone of effective management, overcoming crises, and safeguarding national interests.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | Associated Press
“Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview on state TV that his government has not engaged in talks to end the war, ‘and we do not plan on any negotiations.’”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi | Guardian
“Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, later said the [U.S.] proposals had been ‘passed on to the country’s senior authorities’ but Iran had ‘no intention of negotiating for now.’”
GULF STATES
Governments of Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan (Joint Statement) | X
“The [signatory states], reaffirm their strongest condemnation of the blatant Iranian aggressions, which constitute a flagrant violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of international law, international humanitarian law, and the United Nations Charter, whether carried out directly or through its agents and the armed factions it supports in the region, and in particular the aggressions launched by Iran-aligned armed factions from the Republic of Iraq against a number of regional states, their facilities, and infrastructure, which represent a breach of international laws and covenants, and a blatant violation of Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which explicitly demands that Iran immediately and unconditionally cease any aggression or threat against neighboring states, including through the use of proxies. . . . The states party to this statement also reaffirm their full and inherent right to self-defense against these criminal attacks in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter . . . They further condemn the acts and activities that undermine the security and stability of regional states . . .”
“The UAE air defenses (March 25, 2026) engaged 9 drones coming from Iran. And since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, the UAE air defenses have engaged 357 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1815 drones. These attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 3 members of the armed forces while performing their national duty, the killing of 6 civilians of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, and Palestinian nationalities.”
Anwar Gargash, Senior Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President | X
“Since the start of the treacherous Iranian aggression, sister and friendly countries have continued to make contact, distinguishing positions between those who offered genuine support that is appreciated and thanked, and those who settled for statements without action. The Emirates has proven its ability to confront and endure, and it does not need equipment and troops as much as it needs clarity of positions and knowledge of who can be relied upon in times of hardship.”
UAE Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba | Wall Street Journal
“The past 3½ weeks of war have confirmed what we have known for nearly 50 years—Iran’s revolution is a threat to global security and economic stability. We can’t let Iran hold the U.S., the United Arab Emirates and the global economy hostage. A simple cease-fire isn’t enough. We need a conclusive outcome that addresses Iran’s full range of threats: nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, terror proxies and blockades of international sea lanes. . . . Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been degraded. Its proxies have been weakened. More needs to be done to remove the missile and drone threats. And we are ready to join an international initiative to reopen the strait and keep it open.”
EUROPE
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer | X
“The Tories and Reform would have rushed us into the conflict in the Middle East without thinking through the consequences it would have for British people. My Labour government will always make decisions in the national interest.”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius | Politico
[When asked whether and how European countries would assist the U.S. in the war against Iran]: “One would wish for more predictability, more clarity and more strategic foresight—not only in this case [the Iran war] . . . Let’s wait and see.”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier | Politico
“This war violates international law. There is little doubt that, in any case, the justification of an imminent attack on the U.S. does not hold water . . . This war is also—and please bear with me when I say this, as someone directly involved—a politically disastrous mistake. And that’s what frustrates me the most. A truly avoidable, unnecessary war, if its goal was to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”
French President Emmanuel Macron | X
“I spoke with the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. I emphasized the absolute necessity of ending the unacceptable attacks against countries in the region, protecting energy and civilian infrastructure, and restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. I urged Iran to engage in negotiations with good faith to open a path toward de-escalation and establish a framework that can meet the international community’s expectations regarding Iran's nuclear and missile programs, as well as its destabilizing regional activities. Finally, I also urged Iran to swiftly facilitate the return to France of our compatriots, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot | X
“Since the start of the crisis in the Middle East, France has done honor to what it must be: a power of balance that does not let itself be drawn into wars it has not chosen, but ensures the security of its nationals and its partners.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez | X
“Remaining silent in the face of an unjust war is an act of cowardice and complicity. The Government of Spain has approved a Response Plan, the largest social and economic shield in the entire EU. Because every bomb that falls in the Middle East ends up hitting the pockets of our families.”
UKRAINE
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | X
“Iranian ‘shaheds’ enhanced by Russia hit a church in Lviv—this is utterly perverse, and only the likes of Putin could take pleasure in it. In Ivano-Frankivsk, a maternity hospital was damaged. The scale of today’s attack strongly indicates that Russia has no intention of really ending this war. If we take into account that Russia is also helping the Iranian regime to carry out strikes across the region, the conclusion becomes self-evident: without additional and strong pressure on Russia, without significant Russian losses, those in Moscow will not develop any desire to back down from the war and somehow come to terms with peace again.”
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy | X
“We are engaging with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf, which now show a strong interest in Ukraine’s experience in defending against drones. We already see that not only “shaheds” are being used in the region, but there is also growing evidence of the use of FPV drones. This is modern warfare, and everyone must be prepared for it. Ukraine has this expertise, and in exchange for our support we need help in areas where we face greater challenges. This includes protection against ballistic threats and financial resources for defense. Ukraine offers a mutually beneficial partnership: we can strengthen those who can strengthen us.”
TURKEY
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | X
“No country that values world peace and stability should henceforth carry wood to the fire that Israel has unjustly ignited in our region. Turkey will continue to work with all its might, all its resources, and all the means at its disposal to establish peace, justice, and stability.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan | X
“Thank goodness that in no period of our history did we fall for the game, and today too we are not falling into the traps that some are trying to lure us into. We never want the war to turn into a war of attrition between the regional countries. We are determined to keep our country out of this ring of fire.”
PAKISTAN
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif | X
“Spoke with my dear brother His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman . . . I reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times. Appreciating the Kingdom’s restraint, I stressed the urgent need for de-escalation, an end to hostilities, and unity in the ranks of the Ummah. I also briefed His Royal Highness on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts for regional peace and stability. We agreed to remain in close coordination.”
UNITED NATIONS
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres | X
“War is not the answer. We need a way out of this disaster. Diplomacy is the way out. Full respect of international law is the way out. Peace is the way out.”
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