Trump Speech: Live Stream Of The President's Comments On Iran

Update 12:32 p.m. EST

In a televised statement from the White House, President Trump on Wednesday vowed to stop Iran from destabilizing the Middle East hours after Tehran retaliated for the targeted drone strike that killed one of its generals last week.

"We will not allow that to happen," Trump said of Iranian efforts to fund terrorism in the region.

Flanked by Vice President Mike Pence, cabinet secretaries and senior military officers in their uniforms, Trump said that no Americans were hurt by an overnight missile barrage that hit two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in Irbil and Al Asad.

"The American people should be extremely grateful and happy. No Americans were harmed. … All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained," Trump said.

"Iran appears to be standing down. That's a very good thing for all parties concerned and good thing for the world."

Trump also announced more sanctions on Iran, while calling on NATO allies to increase involvement in the Middle East.

"The United States will immediately impose additional punishing economic sanctions on the Iranian regime," Trump said.

Original story:

President Trump will address the nation on the Iranian crisis following a missile strike against U.S. troops based in Iraq.

Initial reports indicated there were no casualties and little damage from the dozen missiles fired at bases in Irbil and Al Asad in retaliation for the targeted drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week.

The White House said Trump would speak at 11 a.m. EST.

Watch the live stream below:

Shortly after the missile barrage, Trump tweeted, "All is well."

Fears had been mounting since Soleimani's death of an all-out war between Iran with the U.S. Iran said Tuesday it was considering 13 options in response while Trump said the United States had compiled a list of 52 targets in Iran, presumably mostly related to the country's oil production facilities and nuclear development sites.

Iran said Monday it would ignore the agreement reach with world powers in 2015 restricting its nuclear development program and would ramp up its uranium enrichment program. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in May 2018, accusing Tehran of violating the pact, something the International Atomic Energy Agency failed to corroborate.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif indicated the overnight missile launch was its response to Soleimani’s death, calling the action “proportionate.”

“We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression,” he tweeted.