Trump Connects Iran Conflict with Post-9/11 War on Terror

On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, former President Donald Trump made a clear connection between the ongoing struggle against Iran and America’s fight against terrorism that began after 9/11, asserting that “there can only be victory.”

Commemorating the day when nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives in 2001, Trump reiterated the commitment made in the wake of those tragic events.

“Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget,” Trump expressed during a remembrance event at the Pentagon. “That’s why we fight today.”

He added, “We don’t have a choice. There can only be victory. We fight hard. We fight to win.”

Trump also honored the generations of U.S. service members who have taken part in the War on Terror, acknowledging the sacrifices made by those currently facing off against Iran.

“For 25 years, our best and bravest have kept America safe,” he said, paying tribute to “every member of the United States military who served in the War on Terror.”

He characterized the fight as “a war on sick, horrible terror.”

Trump went on to commend the service members actively working to make sure that Iran, identified as the “world’s number one sponsor of terror,” never develops nuclear weapons.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further emphasized this connection, declaring, “the struggle against evil continues, and it continues now.”

He claimed that in recent months, significant damage had been inflicted on what he called the world’s most prolific state sponsor of terrorism. Hegseth described Iran as an Islamic theocracy that has long harbored hostile intentions towards the U.S., evident from attacks that have resulted in American casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“But they did not factor in this president,” he stated, referring to the recent crackdown on Iran.

Hegseth highlighted the successes against Iran, noting, “The United States has killed their leaders, destroyed their air force, and their navy rests at the bottom of the sea. Their defenses are gone.”

He continued to emphasize the pressure being applied to Tehran.

“We’re still sending terrorists where they belong — to hell — and tankers to the bottom of the ocean where they belong,” Hegseth asserted, reaffirming that the U.S. is committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“The economic pressure tightens every day. We control the Strait,” he proclaimed. “We will finish this fight.”

This message comes after a week in which U.S. forces targeted eight Iranian oil tankers as a response to Iranian missile assaults on American naval vessels. U.S. Central Command indicated that these tankers were linked to a significant financial network supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its allied terrorists.

Notably, Trump reiterated his lack of regrets concerning his confrontational stance towards Iran, underscoring Tehran’s nuclear ambitions as the principal concern driving his actions.

When asked during a Fox News interview if he would make the same choices again, he responded decisively, “If I had it to do again, I’d do exactly as I did. I took out their nuclear capability.”

Trump warned that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose threats not just to Israel and the surrounding region, but also to the U.S. itself, suggesting that Tehran could have targeted American cities.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he insisted. “And if I didn’t do what I did, they would have a nuclear weapon.”

The day also saw a connection made to terrorism related to Iran when the State Department announced rewards for information about three senior al-Qaeda figures reportedly based in Iran.

“These individuals are senior leaders within al-Qaida, which utilizes Iran as a safe haven to execute violent attacks against the United States and its allies,” stated the program regarding Sayf al-Adl, Abd al-Rahman al-Maghrebi, and Yasin al-Suri.

The U.S. is offering up to $10 million for information on al-Adl, who is believed to have played a critical role in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Trump wrapped up his remarks by reflecting on the American response to the 9/11 attacks, stating that the events highlighted “what a country is truly made of.”

“No one can ever prepare for a day like 9/11, but we can always choose to be the kind of nation the world saw in those days after,” he said, honoring the heroism of individuals who risked everything for strangers during those critical moments.

“September 11th reminded us of the terrible power of hate,” Trump concluded. “The 25 years since have shown us the even greater power of the American spirit to endure and prevail and to win.”