WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a final ultimatum to the members of Iran’s security apparatus, offering “total immunity” to those who defect while warning of certain death for those who remain loyal to the regime.
Speaking from the White House on Thursday, March 5, 2026, the President directly addressed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regular military, and the police force as the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign, Operation Epic Fury, enters its second week.
The Ultimatum: Immunity or Death
In a blunt appeal for mass defections, Trump urged the Iranian security establishment to side with the domestic uprising and help “take back” their country.
“I’m once again calling on all members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, the military, and the police to lay down their arms,” Trump declared. “Accept immunity, we’ll give you immunity. You’ll be perfectly safe with total immunity, or you’ll face absolutely guaranteed death, and I don’t want to see that”.
The President emphasized that those who surrender would be placed on “the right side of history” and would be protected under a new legal framework designed to dismantle the current clerical leadership.
A Decapitated Regime
The offer comes during a period of unprecedented chaos within the Iranian leadership.
- Supreme Leader Killed: On February 28, 2026, a joint U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran killed
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top military commanders.
- IRGC Leadership Decimated: The IRGC Chief, Mohammad Pakpour, was also confirmed killed in the opening phase of the offensive, leaving the organization in a state of operational disarray.
- Military Dominance: Trump asserted that the U.S. has destroyed over 60% of Iran’s air defenses and missile capabilities, claiming, “They have no air defense. All of their airplanes are gone”.
Vetoing the Succession
The U.S. President also took the unusual step of publicly vetoing potential successors to the Supreme Leader. Trump explicitly rejected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah, describing him as an “unacceptable choice” for the next leader of Iran.
Instead, Trump indicated that the U.S. would have a direct “say” in who leads the country next, aiming for a leadership structure that “will not threaten America or its neighbors”.
Global and Regional Fallout
The conflict has already spilled across borders, with Iranian retaliatory strikes hitting targets in Cyprus, Dubai, and Israel. Despite these counter-attacks, Trump maintained that it is “too late” for diplomacy, rejecting Tehran’s recent calls for negotiations.
The President also urged Iranian diplomats worldwide to defect and request asylum, promising them protection as part of the broader effort to isolate the remaining members of the regime.
