President Donald Trump has addressed the United States after Iran’s retaliatory attack, promising further sanctions on the country and asking NATO for more involvement in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump has addressed the United States after Iran’s retaliatory attack, promising further sanctions on the country and asking NATO for more involvement in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump has addressed the United States after Iran’s retaliatory attack, promising further sanctions on the country and asking NATO for more involvement in the Middle East.
This comes after many feared that Trump would use the attack to declare war on Iran.
He said that the American people should be “grateful and happy” after no casualties were suffered in Iran’s attack on two US military bases in Iraq in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He said this was due to early warning systems and the dispersal of personal in advance.
The President said that Iran “appears to be standing down, which is a good thing”.
Trump also claimed that Iran’s hostilities “substantially increased” after the Iran Nuclear Deal was signed in 2013, and that they went on a “terrorist spree” funded by the funds made available by the deal, while constantly “chanting Death to America”.
He also called Iran “the leading sponsor of terrorism” and said under his presidency, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
He said that under his direction, the US eliminated the world’s “top terrorist”, General Qasem Suleimani, claiming that he was responsible for terrorist strikes against civilian targets and American troops, and orchestrated the assault on the US Embassy in Baghdad. Trump claimed that the strike was a preemptive move to stop attacks on Americans.
Trump promised additional “powerful sanctions” upon Iran until it “changes its behaviour”.
Trump said that the time has come for various countries such as the UK, Germany and China to break away from the Iran deal, and help make a new deal that allows Iran to “thrive and prosper”.
Trump said he is also going to ask NATO to be “much more involved” in the Middle East.
Trump praised the American military for defeating ISIS and killing its Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. He said that ISIS is a “natural enemy” of Iran, and that Iran should work with the US on mutual priorities.
General Qasem Suleimani, who Trump had assassinated, is credited by many for the defeat of ISIS in the region.
