Trump confirms calling off retaliatory strike against Iran 10 minutes before

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, June 21 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump confirmed Friday that the US military was "cocked and loaded" to strike Iran but that "10 minutes before the strike" he stopped it.
Trump said in a series of tweets that Iran "shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General."
He added "10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone.
"I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world," he remarked.
He stressed "Sanctions are biting and more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD."
He noted that former President Barack Obama "made a desperate and terrible deal with Iran - Gave them 150 Billion Dollars plus 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH. Iran was in big trouble and he bailed them out. Gave them a free path to Nuclear Weapons, and SOON."
He continued "Instead of saying thank you, Iran yelled Death to America. I terminated the deal, which was not even ratified by Congress, and imposed strong sanctions."
He affirmed "They are a much weakened nation today than at the beginning of my Presidency, when they were causing major problems throughout the Middle East. Now they are Bust."
The New York Times was the first to report that Trump approved on Thursday military strikes against Iran in response to downing a US military drone but called them off a short time later.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration late Thursday prohibited US registered aircraft from operating over the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman "due to heightened military activities and increased political tensions that might place commercial flights at risk". (end)
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