Iran created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.
Speaking from the White House, Trump said that Iran’s hostilities substantially increased after the “foolish” nuclear deal signed in 2013, adding “they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash.”
“Instead of saying ‘thank you’ to the United States, they chanted ‘death to America.’ In fact, they chanted ‘death to America’ the day the agreement was signed.” Trump said.
“Then, Iran went on a terror spree, funded by the money from the deal, and created hell in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq.”
“Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support for terrorism,” Trump said.
He urged world powers to break away from the remnants of the Iran deal and work together toward making a deal with Iran that “makes the world a safe and more peaceful place.”
“Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment violence, unrest, hatred, and war,” Trump said. “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.”
Trump’s address was his fist after Iran fired missiles at US forces in Iraq in retaliation over the US killing of General Qasem Soleimani.
Trump said that the strikes caused no casualties and suggested that there would be no further military action against Iran.
He said that he would tighten already crippling US sanctions.
