Abbott elevates readiness of Texas National Guard, DPS after Iran strike

After President Donald Trump ordered U.S. military to strike three Iranian nuclear targets, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state law enforcement to elevate readiness in the event that any retaliatory response may occur in the state.

Late Saturday night, Trump addressed the nation stating that the U.S. “carried out massive precision strikes on three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime, Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” describing it as “an extraordinary military success.” As a result, Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.”

Trump also said the U.S. would go after more targets with “precision, speed and skill” and warned that any retaliation by Iran against the United States would be met with a greater force than the targeted operations against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

In response to the attack, Abbott said he supported Trump’s “decisive action” and was taking additional measures in Texas.

“As we unite as a Nation, we as a state must remain vigilant to secure our homeland,” Abbott said. “To ensure the highest level of safety in our communities, and out of an abundance of caution, Texas is elevating the readiness of our Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and Texas National Guard, increasing patrols around high-risk locations and ensuring our state is fully prepared to address any threat. At this time, there is no need to worry. We want to keep it that way.

“Texas stands with America’s Commander-in-Chief. We will defend our communities and support our troops."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday the operation didn’t target Iranian troops or the Iranian people. “Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program and none could until President Trump,” he said, “showing the world that American deterrence is back.

“When this president speaks, the world should listen. No other country on planet earth could have conducted the operation that [the U.S. military] did. Not even close.”

“President Trump seeks peace, and Iran should take that path,” Hegseth said.

In response to the attack, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghci told reporters in Istanbul that Iranian officials “were in the middle of negotiations” with the Trump administration when the strike occurred. “I think they have proved that they are not men of diplomacy and that they only understand the language of threat and force, and this is very unfortunate,” he said, The Wall Street Journal reported.

"President Trump was elected on a platform of putting an end to America's costly involvement in foreign wars in our part of the world. He has betrayed not only Iran by abusing our commitment to diplomacy, but also deceived his own voters," he said. When asked about a potential Iranian military response, Araghchi said, “There are a variety of options open to us, and that’s it.”

Threats of escalation continue after Islamic terrorist threats increased under the Biden administration, and the FBI and Department of Homeland Security in January again warned of potential terrorist attacks targeting Americans, The Center Square reported.