U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a harsh ultimatum to the Iranian military, threatening them with physical destruction if they refuse to lay down their weapons. Amid the intensifying conflict in the Middle East, Washington has also confirmed the first losses among its service members, while the international community braces for the large-scale consequences of the new military campaign.
As reported by "Hvylya," this was stated by CNN with reference to statements from the American leader and representatives of other governments.
Addressing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Trump promised full immunity to those who refuse to resist and warned of fatal consequences for the rest.
"I am again calling on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity, or face certain death," the U.S. President stated. According to him, retribution will be inevitable: "It will be certain death. It will not be pretty."
Simultaneously, the American leader appealed to the citizens of Iran to take the situation into their own hands, emphasizing that the United States has already fulfilled its promise to eliminate the country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Trump called him one of the most brutal figures in history, and described the joint U.S.-Israeli operation as an act of justice and retribution for the victims of the Tehran regime.
U.S. Military Casualties in Iran
However, the large-scale military operation, named "Epic Fury," has already resulted in losses for the American side. In a special video address, Trump confirmed the deaths of three U.S. service members and warned that the death toll could rise before the end of hostilities.
"We pray for the full recovery of the wounded and express our enormous love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen. Unfortunately, there will likely be more," Trump stated, promising to deliver the harshest blow to terrorists as an act of revenge.
France's Reaction
The situation triggered an immediate global reaction. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, as reported by BFMTV, stated Paris's readiness to protect its partners in the Persian Gulf, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. At the same time, he criticized the unilateral actions of Washington and Tel Aviv, noting that the use of force should have been discussed at the UN Security Council to gain legitimacy.
"Everyone could have taken responsibility, because only by approaching the UN Security Council with a request for the use of force can the necessary legitimacy be obtained," he said.
China Calls for Cessation of Hostilities
Beijing also expressed deep concern. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning urged an immediate halt to military operations to prevent the conflict from expanding and impacting global economic development.
"The current regional situation is complex and delicate. China calls on all parties to immediately cease military operations, prevent further expansion of the conflict, and mitigate the impact of regional instability on global economic development," Mao said.
According to her, China is deeply concerned about the consequences of the conflict for Iran's neighbors, supports them in strengthening communication and coordination based on good neighborliness and friendship, and believes that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of the Persian Gulf states must be fully respected.
"China is ready to cooperate with the international community to ensure regional security, actively promote peace and conflict prevention, and support efforts to resolve problems through dialogue and negotiations," Mao emphasized.
Risk of Migration Wave
Meanwhile, Europe is preparing for severe side effects. The Speaker of the Czech Parliament, Tomio Okamura, as reported by Radio Prague International, warned that the attack on Iran exponentially increases the threat of a new wave of mass migration and a global energy crisis, including a sharp spike in fuel prices.
"I condemn the actions of the Iranian regime, but this does not mean that the UN Charter should not be observed," Okamura stressed, calling the declaration agreed upon by EU foreign ministers "toothless" and ineffective in leading to a ceasefire.
The escalation has already paralyzed civil aviation in the region. European airlines are mass-canceling flights to the Middle East. Due to this, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto was forced to return from Dubai on a military aircraft, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur evacuated to Oman, and the German Foreign Ministry admitted it currently sees no safe options for evacuating its citizens.
Putin Hesitates to Blame U.S.
In an analytical report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) for March 1, experts detailed the Kremlin's reaction to operations "Lion's Roar" and "Epic Fury," which eliminated not only Iran's spiritual leadership but also the high command of the IRGC.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent an official message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Russian dictator expressed support for his ally, calling Khamenei's death a "cynical murder." However, ISW analysts highlight a key detail: in his statement, Putin never once directly mentioned either the United States or Israel. According to experts, such rhetoric directly indicates the Kremlin's fear of finally burning bridges in relations with Washington.
The Russian Foreign Ministry attempted to compensate for Putin's overt caution with a more aggressive tone. Diplomats accused Western countries of a targeted "hunt" for Iranian leaders and a gross violation of international law. However, international observers immediately labeled these claims hypocritical and empty, as Moscow itself has ignored basic international norms for years during its full-scale war against Ukraine.
At the same time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov launched a flurry of simulated diplomatic activity. He held a series of telephone negotiations with representatives of China and Arab states, officially calling for "stabilization of the situation" through UN Security Council mechanisms. Security specialists emphasize that these calls hide a basic lack of resources—Russia simply has neither the military nor the financial capabilities for real intervention in a Middle East crisis of this level.
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, also did not go beyond routine protocol statements, calling on the international community to "restore dialogue."
ISW concludes that the current crisis has finally exposed the deep asymmetry in Russian-Iranian relations. Moscow continues to willingly accept and use Iranian weaponry but is absolutely unwilling to risk its own geopolitical interests to save the regime in Tehran. Moreover, the Kremlin expects to benefit from its ally's weakening, hoping to trade its non-interference for possible concessions from the U.S. on the Ukrainian track.