The world leaders heaved a sigh of relief as President Trump steered the U.S. away from another war in the Middle East, telling Americans Wednesday that no troops were harmed in Iranian missile attacks on bases in Iraq.
Speaking from the White House in the wake of Iran’s launch of missiles into the U.S. bases in Iraq, Trump mixed his warnings to Iran with talk of peace route and diplomatic effort to reign in the Persian Gulf nation from acquiring nuclear weapons capability.
“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 a televised statement from the White House during which he said the U.S. forced remained prepared for anything.
Tehran, meanwhile, says it fired ballistic missiles in retaliation to American drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite security and intelligence forces, at Baghdad airport, and that it does not seek war with the United States.
No American troops were injured or killed in the attacks, Trump said in a statement marked by a de-escalation effort.
Several world leaders including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, European heads of government, Middle Eastern and South Asian leaders had cautioned against repercussions of a full-scale U.S.-Iran war.
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The tensions between the U.S. rocketed after an Iran-supported mob attack on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. In reaction, the U.S. eliminated the Iranian general.
Trump announced that his administration would impose further sanctions on Iran and demanded that US allies in Europe be part of his quest to replace the Obama era nuclear deal with Iran in a way that effectively stops Tehran from seeking nuclear weapons.
“The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,” he said.
In the same breath, the U.S. president kept his options open by explicitly describing American military readiness.
“Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal and fast,” he said.
“The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it,” Trump said.
“We do not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent.”
