Trump Says No Casualties in Iran Strike, Announces New Sanctions

President Donald Trump announced in a Jan. 8 speech that there were zero casualties in the Jan. 7 Iranian strike on Iraq and that his administration will be implementing further sanctions on the regime.

Iran had launched a rocket strike on Iraqi military bases in Erbil and Al Asad that housed American troops in response to the United States killing Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a precision airstrike at Baghdad International Airport on Jan. 3.

“No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime,” Trump said. “We suffered no casualties. All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases.”

He added: “Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.”

Trump proceeded to defend his decision to kill Soleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force, arguing that he was responsible for the deaths of thousands of American soldiers and was planning to attack United States military personnel.

“By removing Soleimani, we have sent a powerful message to terrorists: If you value your own life, you will not threaten the lives of our people,” Trump said.

The president then said that his administration will be imposing more sanctions on the Iranian regime until it ceases its aggression in the Middle East as well as its support for terror. He also urged Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China to join the U.S. in exiting from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

“We must also make a deal that allows Iran to thrive and prosper and take advantage of its enormous untapped potential. Iran can be a great country,” Trump said. “Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment violence, unrest, hatred and war.”

Quotes courtesy Washington Post transcript