Trump, in a nationally televised address from the White House, said that no Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime.

 

“We suffered no casualties, all of our soldiers are safe, and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases.” He noted that no American or Iraqi lives were lost because of the precautions taken, the dispersal of forces, and an early warning system that worked very well.

 

He stated that Iran appeared to be standing down, which “is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world”.

 

Those days are over, Trump said, referring to “Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond” that nations have tolerated for far too long.

 

Remarking that Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world, he stressed that they will never let that happen.

 

“As long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” he emphasised.

 

“At my direction, the United States military eliminated the world’s top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani. As the head of the Quds Force, Soleimani was personally responsible for some of the absolutely worst atrocities,” he said on Friday’s attack in Baghdad against the Iranian General who he said, “should have been terminated long ago”.

 

The US President said that they continued to evaluate options in response to Iranian aggression, vowing that the United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime and that these powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behavior.

 

Remarking that Iran has seized ships in international waters, fired an unprovoked strike on Saudi Arabia, and shot down two U.S. drones in recent months alone, he said Iran’s hostilities substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013.

 

Urging Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism, Trump noted; “The time has come for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and China to recognize this reality. The civilized world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime: Your campaign of terror, murder, mayhem will not be tolerated any longer. It will not be allowed to go forward.”

 

Trump noted that he is going to ask NATO to become much more involved in the Middle East process.

 

The US President concluded by saying; “To the people and leaders of Iran: We want you to have a future and a great future — one that you deserve, one of prosperity at home, and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”