Trump defends Iran war during Veterans Day address, says he is making the world ‘safer’

President Donald Trump defended the US war with Iran during a Veterans Day address at Arlington National Cemetery, saying Iran had been waging war on America since 1979 and that the US had fought back. He said the conflict would end “soon” and claimed a total victory would make the world safer and more peaceful.

Trump described roughly seven months of conflict as involving only a few weeks of active fighting and said 18 Americans had been killed. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration was pursuing economic and diplomatic pressure, including sanctions and a naval blockade, and argued that these measures were weakening Iran. He said military strikes were unnecessary if economic pressure achieved the same goals.