The Irbil and Al Asad bases were attacked early on Wednesday local time. Iran said it acted in retaliation after the assassination of top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last week. The US drone strike targeting him and Iran-backed militia figures in the Iraqi capital Baghdad was a major escalation amid already deteriorating relations between Iran and the US.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" for the US and called for an end to the American presence in the Middle East. On Wednesday evening at least two rockets fell in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, where the US embassy is located. There were no reports of any damage or casualties.
The US attack on Soleimani killed members of pro-Iranian Iraqi militias, who have also said they would seek revenge. However, US Vice President Mike Pence told CBS News that "intelligence" indicated that Iran had asked its allied militias not to attack US targets.
"We're receiving some encouraging intelligence that Iran is sending messages to those very same militias not to move against American targets or civilians, and we hope that that message continues to echo," Mr Pence told the news channel.
What did Mr Trump say on Wednesday?
The president has previously threatened military action against Iran if it were to target US personnel and bases, but he did not announce any military action, saying Iran's attack had caused no casualties. "No Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime," he said.
"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned," he added. He also said that "American strength, both military and economic, is the best deterrent". "The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it."
Mr Trump also said the US would immediately impose additional financial and economic sanctions on Iran, which would remain until it "changed its behaviour". "Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism," he said. "The civilised world must send a clear and unified message to the Iranian regime. Your campaign of terror, murder and mayhem will not be tolerated any more. It will not be allowed to go forward."
Back to business as usual?
President Trump's speech was a curious amalgam of threats, bluster - a touch of de-escalation. Nonetheless he still slapped on more economic sanctions against Tehran. He triumphed in the killing of Gen Soleimani, whom he described as "the world's top terrorist".
But there were essentially three key messages. First, de-escalation. There were no US casualties caused by the Iranian missile strikes. He said that Iran was "standing down", presumably returning its deployed missile forces to their bases. He did not threaten an immediate US response.
Secondly - the nuclear deal. He called upon the other signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement - the JCPOA - which the US long ago abandoned, to similarly give it up as a bad job.
Thirdly, stressing US energy independence, he called upon Nato countries "to become much more involved in the Middle East process". This will inevitably be seen as another signal that the US is tiring of its role in the region and THAT will not be welcomed by his allies either in the Middle East or in Nato.
So this was a speech full of Trumpian contradiction and the few references to a brighter future for the Iranian people provided little tangible hope of any new diplomatic initiative. So in the wake of the US drone attack and Iran's missile strikes it appears to be back to business as usual.
President
Donald Trump on Wednesday addressed the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and
Iran, vowing to place new sanctions on Iran following Tuesday night's attack on
a Iraqi military base that hosts U.S. forces. The White House provided the
following transcript of Trump's remarks:
"As
long as I am President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have
a nuclear weapon.
Good morning. I'm pleased to inform you: The American people should be extremely grateful and happy 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.
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. I
salute the incredible skill and courage of America’s men and women in uniform.
For
far too long -- all the way back to 1979, to be exact -- nations have tolerated
Iran’s destructive and destabilizing behavior in the Middle East and beyond.
Those days are over. Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism, and their
pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens the civilized world. We will never let
that happen.
Last week, we took decisive action to stop
a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives. 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
trained terrorist armies, including Hezbollah, launching terrorist strikes
against civilian targets. He fueled bloody civil wars all across the region. He
viciously wounded and murdered thousands of U.S. troops, including the planting
of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims.
Soleimani’s
hands were drenched in both American and Iranian blood. He should have been
terminated long ago. 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.
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.
In
recent months alone, Iran has seized ships in international waters, fired an
unprovoked strike on Saudi Arabia, and shot down two U.S. drones.
Then, Iran went on a terror spree,
funded by the money from the deal, and created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon,
Afghanistan, and Iraq. The missiles fired last night at us and our allies were
paid for with the funds made available by the last administration. The regime
also greatly tightened the reins on their own country, even recently killing
1,500 people at the many protests that are taking place all throughout Iran.
The
very defective JCPOA expires shortly anyway, and gives Iran a clear and quick
path to nuclear breakout. Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its
support for terrorism. The time has come for the United Kingdom, Germany,
France, Russia, and China to recognize this reality.
They
must now break away from the remnants of the Iran deal – or JCPOA – and we must
all work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer
and more peaceful place. 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.
Peace
and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to
foment violence, unrest, hatred, and war. 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.
Over the last three years, under my leadership, our economy is stronger than
ever before and America has achieved energy independence. These historic
accompliments [accomplishments] changed our strategic priorities. These are
accomplishments that nobody thought were possible. And options in the Middle
East became available. We are now the number-one producer of oil and natural
gas anywhere in the world. We are independent, and we do not need Middle East
oil.
The American military has been
completely rebuilt under my administration, at a cost of $2.5 trillion. U.S.
Armed Forces are stronger than ever before. Our missiles are big, powerful,
accurate, lethal, and fast. Under construction are many hypersonic missiles.
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.
Three
months ago, after destroying 100 percent of ISIS and its territorial caliphate,
we killed the savage leader of ISIS, al-Baghdadi, who was responsible for so
much death, including the mass beheadings of Christians, Muslims, and all who
stood in his way. He was a monster. Al-Baghdadi was trying again to rebuild the
ISIS caliphate, and failed.
Tens
of thousands of ISIS fighters have been killed or captured during my
administration. ISIS is a natural enemy of Iran. The destruction of ISIS is
good for Iran, and we should work together on this and other shared priorities.
Finally,
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.
I want
to thank you, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you."
