On Feb. 28, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike. Trump also revealed that Iran’s military, security forces, and police no longer want to fight and are seeking exemptions. Quoting his own words from the previous day, Trump said: “Now they can go unpunished, but in the future, it will only be the death penalty!” He called on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian patriots to “peacefully integrate, unite, and work together to restore the country’s former glory.”
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a briefing that the joint U.S.-Israel strike on Feb. 28 “destroyed” Khamenei’s residence.
He said bluntly: “There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer a tyrant.” Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to “complete” the work started by the U.S. and Israel: “This is an opportunity to act… do not stand by, because this moment will come, and you must take to the streets to overthrow and eradicate this regime.”
A Pentagon-released video showed U.S. warplanes taking off from aircraft carriers and missiles launched from naval vessels, carrying out precise strikes on multiple Iranian targets. The operation was codenamed “Epic Fury.” At the time, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported no American casualties. According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the airstrikes have caused at least 200 deaths and over 700 injuries. Iranian authorities said a girls’ school in Minab city was hit.
Exclusive Interview with dissident leader Sheng Xue
On Feb. 28, Vision Times interviewed dissident leader Sheng Xue, who stated that this operation marked “the complete collapse of the old international order.”
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Sheng Xue pointed out: “For 47 years, the United Nations system has done nothing but appease theocratic tyranny in Iran. Today, this ‘collective incompetence’ has been utterly bankrupted by the sound of missiles from the U.S.-Israel coalition.” She analyzed that the theocratic regime established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution long exported terrorism, developed nuclear weapons, and suppressed its people, yet repeatedly escaped real sanctions under the UN framework. “Today, Trump has defined a new 21st-century standard: international law has never been able to constrain evil forces such as communist tyranny and terrorism. The decisive hand of justice is the only true justice.”
Regarding Trump’s decision, Sheng Xue gave high praise: “President Trump, despite enormous obstacles, made the decisive call to launch the ‘Epic Fury’ operation, demonstrating his resolve for a second term.” She recalled that Trump had been tough on Iran in his first term, withdrawing from the nuclear deal and ordering the killing of Qassem Soleimani, and now he has once again acted on his words. “This is a major psychological deterrent to Beijing; it proves that Trump has both the courage and the power to directly remove dictatorial opponents.”
Sheng Xue emphasized that the external precision strike is merging with domestic and global struggles for freedom. “The cries of freedom from the Iranian people have been heard. Tyranny is in its death throes, but the dawn of freedom is already appearing amidst the ruins.” She noted that protests inside Iran have continued for months, and the U.S.-Israel action was timely, injecting immense confidence into long-oppressed Iranians.
Strategic blow to the China-Russia evil axis, domino effect imminent
Sheng Xue positioned Iran as “the stronghold of the contemporary evil axis of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in the Middle East.” She predicted that Iran’s destabilization or collapse would trigger a devastating domino effect.
Regarding Russia, Sheng Xue analyzed: “Russia relies heavily on Iranian drones and missiles on the Ukrainian battlefield. If Tehran falls into chaos or regime change, Putin will lose his most critical military supplies.” She added that if Iran shifts toward a pro-Western or democratic government, “Russia’s southern gateway will be completely open, and its influence in the Caucasus and Central Asia will be catastrophically weakened, exposing its flanks entirely.”
The impact on China is even more direct and severe. Sheng Xue said: “The CCP is Iran’s largest oil buyer. War and regime instability will directly threaten China’s energy security. The Belt and Road is severed—Iran is China’s key land corridor to the Middle East and Europe. A regime change in Iran would nullify decades of Chinese influence in the region.” She sees this not just as an energy and geopolitical strike but as a “psychological deterrent”—Trump is no longer constrained by the old order and dares to act directly, forcing Beijing to confront the reality that “Trump follows through.”
Sheng Xue further noted: “Iran is not isolated. It is a core branch of the global dictatorship chain. If the Iranian regime falls in the short term, it will produce a huge demonstration effect and greatly inspire domestic opposition in China and Russia.” She believes Iran’s transformation will ignite hope for other oppressed peoples.
Concluding the interview, Sheng Xue said: “Through this battle, Trump is declaring to the world: the post-World War II false balance maintained by compromise and negotiation is over. A new era defined by action and justice has begun.”
Middle East peace dawn appears, global order reshaping underway
As of publication, U.S.-Israel operations are ongoing. Trump stated that the U.S. will “conduct fierce and precise bombing… for a week or as long as necessary” to achieve peace in the Middle East and the world. Iran has yet to announce a formal successor, but divisions have emerged within the Revolutionary Guard, and several generals are reportedly contacting the U.S. seeking exemptions.
International reactions are mixed. Some Western countries expressed understanding of U.S.-Israel self-defense rights. Sunni states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE remained silent but quietly relieved. Russia and China urgently convened UN Security Council meetings to condemn the “aggression” but are effectively on the defensive.
For Chinese citizens living under the iron curtain, this dramatic event in the Middle East also carries profound meaning. Sheng Xue said: “As we see the Iranian people approaching the dawn of freedom, remember—no regime maintained by lies, violence, and fear can last forever. The era of action has arrived.”
By Meng Hao
