Washington: US President Donald Trump said Iran would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, asserting that Tehran had been “punished greatly” and praising the American military for enforcing what he described as a highly effective blockade.
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday at the Steel Across America event in Washington, where first responders, military personnel and relatives of victims gathered ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
“We’re right now fighting because we have a certain nation that wanted a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “They were very close to getting it, and now they have no chance of getting it. They will never have a nuclear weapon.”
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and they’ve been punished greatly,” he added. “We’ve really taken it to them.”
Trump did not provide additional details about the operations against Iran. He credited the US military and said the blockade had exceeded expectations.
“I want to compliment our military,” he said. “The job they do is unbelievable. The blockade has been so powerful, so effective. Nobody thought it could go so well.”
The US President devoted most of his address to the nearly 3,000 people killed when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington and United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
“We will never forget those we lost, and we will never forget the immortal heroes of September 11th, 2001,” Trump said.
The ceremony featured a 16,000-pound steel beam recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center’s South Tower. The beam has been taken across the country as a reminder of the attacks and the work of first responders.
“When we see the steel, we’re reminded that no matter what threat or challenge comes our way, America will fight, America will endure and America will prevail,” Trump said.
He recalled visiting the devastation in New York with members of his construction crew and praised the firefighters, police officers, military personnel, construction workers and demolition experts who worked at the site.
The President also announced that a new Coast Guard fast response cutter would be named after Jeffrey Palazzo, a New York firefighter and US Coast Guard reservist who died while trying to rescue people at the World Trade Center.
Trump then posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honour, to Welles Crowther, the 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter remembered as “the man in the red bandana”.
Crowther repeatedly entered dangerous areas of the South Tower to help injured and trapped people reach a surviving stairwell. He died when the building collapsed.
“Today, in honor of his incredible bravery and all of the other countless unknown acts of heroism that day, it is my privilege to award the very special, the highest honor that we give, highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said.
Crowther’s mother, Alison, accepted the honour alongside his sister Paige.
“Thank you so very much, Mr. President, for this enormous honor that you’ve bestowed upon my son Welles, in remembrance of his selfless actions on September 11th,” she said. “This means the world to me, my daughters, Paige and Honor, and our entire family.”
The September 11 attacks were carried out by 19 hijackers belonging to al-Qaida. The attacks prompted the United States to launch military operations in Afghanistan and ushered in sweeping changes to American national security, intelligence and aviation policy.
Crowther was identified after survivors independently recalled being guided to safety by a man whose face was partly covered by a red bandana. His actions have since been commemorated through educational and charitable initiatives centred on courage, compassion and public service.
(IANS)
