Here are some more detailed quotes of some of the main points made in
the US president’s short address from the White House a little earlier.
Iran seen as standing down. “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. Our great American forces are prepared
for anything. Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing
for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.”
Boasting of US strength. “Our missiles are big,
powerful, accurate, lethal and fast...The fact that we have this great
military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do
not want to use it. American strength, both military and economic, is
the best deterrent.”
A new Iran deal? Much to US allies’ chagrin, Trump
announced in 2018 that the US intended to “exit” the 2013,
multi-national Iran nuclear deal aimed at persuading Iran to abandon the
pursuit of nuclear weapons in return for the easing of harsh economic
sanctions. Trump said moments ago: “Iran must abandon its nuclear
ambitions and end its support for terrorism. The time has come for the
United Kingdom, Greece, France, Russia and China to recognize this
reality. They must now break away from the remnants of the Iran deal, or
JCPOA.”
Further sanctions: “As we continue to evaluate
options in response to Iranian aggression, the United States will
immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the
Iranian regime. These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes
its behavior.” No details given.
NATO: “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. Today I am going to ask NATO to become much more involved in
the Middle East process.”
Trump talks of "shared priorities" with Iran, in apparent de-escalation
Donald Trump
rounded off his short TV address to the public with what might normally
be considered some small-talk or waffle but in the current context and
with this president counts as actual diplomatic outreach.
It may be no more than lip service. But given that Trump often opts
for bellicose and extremely simplistic rhetoric in denouncing or
threatening anyone he regards as a foe, his closing sentences were
noteworthy.
In fact, all the signals from the last 19 or so hours are that both Iran and the US have embarked on a hasty de-escalation of their sudden crisis.
As he wound down his speech moments ago, Trump referred to the battle against Islamic State, and American forces’ assassination of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi last October.
But then he swiftly pivoted.
“ISIS is a natural enemy of Iran,” Trump said at the White House. “We
should work together on this and other shared priorities. To the people
and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future, and a great future,
one that you deserve, of prosperity and harmony.”
He concluded that the US is “ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.”
This might be meaningless chat from the US president but indicates an
unusual level-headedness, however brief, communicated via Trump by
those advising him and is a clear de-escalation of the rhetoric.
Calls on NATO to become more involved
In his short speech, Donald Trump, who has been scathing and mocking of NATO, called on the alliance to “get more involved in the Middle East”.
He didn’t go into further detail and went on to boast that the USA is now self-sufficient in oil and natural gas, as “the number one producer in the world”, and said: “We do not need Middle East oil.”
Trump then asserted, in warning Iran in characteristic tone, that “our missiles are big and powerful and accurate...and lethal.”
He said he didn’t want to use force, however, and said that “America’s strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent.”
Donald Trump delivers statement about Iran at the White House in Washington
He is flanked by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (left, in blue
tie), vice president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo
(partially obscured by teleprompter), and military leaders in the Gran
d Foyer at the White House moments ago Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Trump announces new sanctions on Iran
The US president just declared that he will impose additional economic sanctions on Iran.
He is calling on Europe to “break away from the remnants of the Iran
nuclear deal”, which he called a “foolish” deal and had previously
announced the US would abandon.
Trump has not given any details about the nature of further sanctions.
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Donald Trump has described last week’s missile assassination of Iranian gen
eral Qassem Suleimani as “decisive action to stop a ruthless terrorist”.
“Last week we eliminated the world’s top terrorist,” he said at the White House.
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