US President Donald Trump has confirmed no Americans or Iraqis were killed in Wednesday's Iranian rocket attacks.
Speaking from the White House for the first time since the attacks on Al Asad airbase and Erbil in Iraq, Trump said United States forces were "prepared for anything", but it appeared Iran was "standing down" following the strikes. He said that was a "very good thing for the world".
"Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism and their pursuit of nuclear weapons [threaten the civilised world]… we will never let that happen."
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that the rocket strikes - retaliation for the US-directed killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani - had been proportionate and Iran did "not seek escalation or war". Iranian state media has reported that Iran would only continue to attack if the United States retaliated.
Trump said all US soldiers were safe following the strikes and there was only minimal damage to the military complexes affected. He said an "early warning system" worked well. US and European sources told Reuters Iran is believed to have purposefully avoided killing Americans in the strikes, which were instead meant to show Iranian strength.
The US Commander-in-Chief said on Thursday options were still being evaluated "in response to Iranian aggression", but additional economic sanctions on Iran would be "immediately [imposed]".
"These powerful sanctions will remain until Iran changes its behaviour."
In 2018, the US President withdrew US support for the Iran nuclear deal and reapplied sanctions that had been removed following the agreement brokered by former President Barack Obama. This started what has been called an economic war between the two countries.
"Iran's hostilities substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013," the President said.
Trump said the missiles launched at the bases on Wednesday were paid for "with the funds made available by the last administration".
Following Friday's killing of Soleimani, Iranian state television said Iran would no longer respect limits on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges it could use. These are crucial to nuclear development.
Trump called for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China to leave the Iran nuclear deal and "work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place". He said this deal should also allow Iran to "thrive and prosper".
Wednesday's attacks followed the Trump-directed assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Forces, was widely considered as one of Iran's most powerful people.
"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 US troops, including the planting of roadside bombs that maim and dismember their victims," Trump said on Thursday.
"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."
Soleimani's killing on Friday last week spurred threats of revenge from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and large displays of public mourning. At processions following the attack, Iranians chanted about America being "evil".
In the day after the attack, Trump said the United States was targeting 52 Iranian sites that it would attack if Iran retaliated. However, the President's rhetoric on Thursday suggests that won't happen.
He said the decision to strike was to "stop a war".
"Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel but we caught him in the act and terminated him," the President said.
The assassination was prompted by the death of an American contractor in late December. The contractor was killed in a rocket attack which the US blamed on Iranian-backed militia. In response, the US killed 25 Kata'ib Hezbollah fighters, leading militias to attack the US embassy in Baghdad.
Roughly 3000 additional soldiers are being sent to the Middle East following Friday's airstrike.
Democrats have criticised Trump's direction to strike, saying it wasn't educated and was ordered without congressional permission. However, sources have told CNN there was a consensus within the President's national security cabinet that based upon intelligence, action was needed. Three sets of White House lawyers also vetted the plan and said Trump did not need authorisation.
