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Iran standing down, Donald Trump says in his address to nation
Trump was addressing the nation after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. Iran’s attack was the most audacious on America since the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday seemed to step back from attacking Iran over a missile attack saying US forces are “prepared for anything,” but for now, “Iran appears to be standing down”
“Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world,” Trump said in an address to the nation from the White House as he seemed to indicate de-escalating the crisis..
Trump said peace and stability cannot prevail in Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment terrorism and that Iranian commander General Qassem Soleimeni whose killing he authorized, had blood off Americans on his hands.
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Trump was addressing the nation after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops after Soleimeni’s killing. Iran’s attack was the most audacious on America since the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
“All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases. Our great American forces are prepared for anything,” he said
Trump described Soleimani as “the world’s top terrorist and should have been terminated long ago”.
“He trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He viciously wounded and murdered thousands of US troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims,” the President said.
Trump said Iran will never be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
“As long as I’m President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.”
“For too long nations have tolerated Iran. Those days are over…. We must all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place,” he said while criticizing the nuclear deal signed with Iran in 2015.
He went on to announce new economic sanctions against Iran. “The United States will impose additional economic sanctions on the Iranian regime. These sanctions will remain till Iran changes its course,” he said.
Iran’s missile attack came days after Soleimani who headed Iran’s elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone attack. Iran had pledged to retaliate. The missiles targeted two bases — one in the northern Iraqi city in Irbil and the other at Ain al-Asad in western Iraq housing US troops.
