Iran live updates: 7th killed service member is identified

Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, was killed in Saudi Arabia.

ByDavid Brennan, Jon Haworth, Kevin Shalvey, Leah Sarnoff, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, and Bill Hutchinson ABCNews logo
Last updated: Monday, March 9, 2026 3:00PM GMT
ABC News Live

President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israel strikes attack targeting military and government sites, officials said.

Iranian state television confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran on the first day of strikes. His son Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen on Sunday to succeed him.

Iran is responding to the operation with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, regional U.S. bases and multiple Gulf nations. Israel is also intensifying its long-running strike campaign against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

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Feb 28, 2026, 8:08 AM GMT

Trump calls for regime change: 'Take over your government'

At the end of his message, President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to seize this opportunity for regime change.

"Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand," Trump said.

He added, "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."

Speaking to the Iranian people, Trump said: "No president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a president who is giving you what you want, so let's see how you respond. America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force. Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach."

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Feb 28, 2026, 8:01 AM GMT

Trump says Iran 'can never have a nuclear weapon'

President Donald Trump called Iran the "world's number one state sponsor of terror," and said that that they can "never have a nuclear weapon," shortly after U.S. and Israel have launched a joint attack on Iran.

In a video post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran "just recently killed tens of thousands of its own citizens on the street as they protested."

"It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon," Trump said. "I will say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon."

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Feb 28, 2026, 8:00 AM GMT

Trump says 'lives of courageous American heroes may be lost' in Iran strike

President Donald Trump said that "the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties," in a video post on Truth Social early Saturday morning.

"That often happens in war. But we are doing this not for now, we are doing this for the future and it is a noble mission," Trump continued.

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Feb 28, 2026, 8:00 AM GMT

Trump cites 'imminent threats' from Iran

In his address, President Donald Trump said: "Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people."