President Donald Trump, from a podium at the White House on Wednesday, said the U.S. will impose new sanctions on Iran in his first public remarks since Iranian missiles hit two military bases in Iraq that house American troops.
Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles on Tuesday night in response to the U.S. drone strike that killed top military Gen. Qassem Soleimani. U.S. and Iraqi officials said there were no fatalities resulting from the "revenge" attacks, although Iranian news outlets claim dozens were killed.
Trump told the nation that Iran appeared to be standing down from the escalating conflict and asked NATO, an organization he has shunned, to be more involved in the Middle East. He also announced the U.S. will further raise sanctions on Iran, though he did not immediately provide details. Current sanctions have had a substantial impact on the country and additional sanctions levied against Iran's central bank late last year after its suspected attack on Saudi Arabia, further crippled its economy.
Trump also defended his decision to take out Iran's top general and stressed: "Soleimani's hands were drenched in both Iranian and American blood."
"As long as I am President of the United States Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon," the president said in the Grand Foyer of the White House standing in front of Vice President Mike Pence and an assortment of cabinet secretaries and military officers in uniform. He said the U.S. is "ready to embrace peace."
Stocks rallied and the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hit all-time highs after the president concluded his comments.
The president said the U.S. had "sent a valuable message to terrorists."
He also alleged the missiles launched by Iran last night were "paid for by the funds made available by the last administration." The money he was referring to were funds that had been frozen after the shah of Iran fell in 1979. Obama agreed to return the long-disputed funds as part of a nuclear deal.
He also referenced what he said was the U.S.'s independence from foreign oil. Though it is true the U.S. produces far more oil than it did years ago, it still imports about 10 million barrels daily. Most U.S. oil comes from Canada, but oil still flows in from Saudia Arabia, Iraq, and other nations in the Middle East.
Hours after launching its missiles, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted the nation did not "seek escalation or war." It was unclear if Iran had planned more attacks after Iran's Revolutionary Guard yesterday said in a statementthe attacks were the start of "the fierce revenge." Zarif said Iran "took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defense," suggesting yesterday's attack was the last. Trump's comments seemed to confirm Zarif's statement.
Just after the U.S. carried out the drone attack the killed Soleimani last week, Trump said he had authorized the strike due to an "imminent" threat and he had intended to prevent a war, not start one. Since then, U.S. officials, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed the move was done to send a message to Iran.
While Iran and the U.S. have held tense relations for more than four decades, the recent escalation began when an American military contractor was killed by an Iranian-backed militia group in the final week of December. The U.S. responded with airstrikes in areas where the militias are based. Then, on New Year's Eve, Iranian-backed militias stormed the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and trapped American diplomats in the compound. Gen. Soleimani was killed in response by a drone strike last Friday.
Russia has defaulted on some of its foreign debt as a tidal wave of western sanctions threatens its economy. The credit ratings agency S&P has placed Russia under "selective default" after it tried to pay its latest obligations in rubles. Russia now has a 30-day grace period to resolve the issue, but Moscow is threatening to take legal action. George Seay, Annandale Capital's CEO, joined Cheddar to break down what this means, and how Russia defaulting on its debt might impact the global economy.
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The Brooklyn subway attack is the latest in a string of high-profile crimes that have plagued New York City. The surge in crime comes as cities across the country are trying to recover from the pandemic and bring life back to a sense of normal. Joseph Giacalone, professor at John Jay College and retired NYPD sergeant, joined Cheddar's Opening Bell to explain what's behind the rise in crime, and what can be done about it.
After failing to take control of northern and western Ukraine, Russia is shifting its focus to the east. As both sides continue to pour reinforcements into the region, officials are expecting more conventional combat involving tanks, artillery, and aircraft that could shape the war's biggest battles yet. Doug Collins, a former Georgia congressman, joined Cheddar to discuss the change in Russia's tactics.
Catching you up on what you need to know on Apr 14, 2022, with the U.S. sending $800M to Ukraine, updates on the subway shooting in Brooklyn, Gov. Abbott putting a pause on his southern border truck inspections, migrants being bused from Texas to Washington, DC, the travel mask mandate extending until May 3, and more.
This March 19, 2018, file photo shows the Yelp app on an iPad in Baltimore. Yelp reports financial results Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019. The online review service will cover the travel expenses of employees who have to travel out of state for abortions, joining the ranks of major employers trying to help workers affected by restrictions being placed on the procedure in Texas and other states. The benefit announced Tuesday, April 12, 2022 covers Yelp's entire workforce of 4,000 employees, but seems most likely to have its biggest immediate impact on its 200 workers in Texas, which has passed a law banning abortions within the state after six weeks of pregnancy. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
