January 8, 2020-As he addressed the nation and the world at the height of an escalating crisis between Iran and the United States, President Donald Trump emphasized American strength in military capabilities, economic growth and natural resources in a sign he is not backing down from the possibility of war with archrival Iran.
Trump called on signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran to abandon the agreement, asked the NATO alliance to take a stronger role in the Middle East, and announced new economic sanctions on Iran.
Trump showed no sign of de-escalating the conflict with Iran. He said Iranians chanted “death to America” even as the United States signed onto the 2015 nuclear deal and fomented conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Furthermore, he reinforced his decision to kill Iranian Quds Force military leader Qasem Soleimani. Trump said the now-deceased commander had trained terrorists throughout the region and was responsible for killing 1,000 U.S. troops.
Trump’s only olive branch to the Iranian government came at the end of his short nine-minute speech: He said the United States would work with Iran to fight Daesh (ISIS) and collaborate on “other priorities.”
‘No Need’ for Middle East Oil
Perhaps in an effort to quell criticism that U.S. interests in Iraq revolve around that county’s oil, Trump emphasized that the United States has gained independence in oil and natural gas.
“We do not need Middle East oil,” Trump said, in a change of tone to political rhetoric that victors in war should take oil of countries conquered.
Iran’s Missile Attack Response
Meanwhile, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Iran had “slapped them in the face” overnight by launching 15 missiles at U.S. military bases in Iraq.
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