Trump says he's 'very prepared' to deal with Iran and would go to war to keep nuclear weapons out of their hands as Pentagon orders 1,000 more troops to the Middle East

  • President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday he's 'prepared' at responding to threats from Iran
  • He said a day earlier that he would take military action against Iran to stop the nation from obtaining nuclear weapons 
  • 'I would certainly go [to war] over nuclear weapons,' Trump told Time
  • Iran announced a few hours prior that it would breach its limit of enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal 
  • Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear deal in May 2018
  • The president downplayed the rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran 
  • 'So far, it's been very minor,' said of the Iranian threat
  • The U.S. intelligence community blamed Iran for two attacks on Norwegian and Japanese oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman
  • The Pentagon announced Monday it would be deploying 1,000 additional troops to the Middle East amid escalating tension between Washington and Tehran 

President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday he's 'prepared' to respond to threats from Iran.

Before departing for his 2020 campaign launch rally in Orlando, Florida, the president said on the White House South Lawn he's 'looking' at taking steps to deal with Iran following attacks near the Persian Gulf.

'We're looking at Iran. A lot of things going with Iran. We're very prepared for Iran. We'll see what happens. Let me say this. We're very prepared. Regardless of what goes, we're very, very prepared,' Trump told reporters.

The president said he was optimistic with how relations with Iran are going compared to when former President Barack Obama was in office.

President Donald Trump said from the White House South Lawn Tuesday he's 'very prepared' to deal with rising threats from Iran

President Donald Trump said from the White House South Lawn Tuesday he's 'very prepared' to deal with rising threats from Iran

While speaking to reporters before departing for his 2020 campaign launch rally in Orlando, Florida, Trump suggested he's optimistic about how Iran has engaged with the U.S. since he's taken office

While speaking to reporters before departing for his 2020 campaign launch rally in Orlando, Florida, Trump suggested he's optimistic about how Iran has engaged with the U.S. since he's taken office 

'If you look at what has taken place… I'm not just talking about over the last week, I'm talking about over a long period of years. They've been a nation of terror. Now we'll see what happens.' Trump continued. 'They are a much different country today than they were two-and-a-half years ago when I came into office. When president Obama signed that horrible deal, they were screaming, 'Death to America.' I haven't been hearing that lately.'

The president said the U.S. is 'well-configured' to deal with Iran if need be. 

'We'll see what happens with Iran. We're very well-set. We're well-configured,' he said. 'We have a lot of things going on with Iran.' 

During an interview with Time on Monday, Trump said if the U.S. were to go to war with Iran under his presidency, it would be to stop them from obtaining nuclear weapons.

'I would certainly go over nuclear weapons,' Trump told Time when asked what would lead him to take military action against Iran, but alluded there could be another reason, 'and I would keep the other a question mark.'

The president also said that so far the threat from the Middle Eastern nation has 'been very minor,' which seems to tell a different story than the Pentagon and the intelligence community.

Just before his interview, which was published Monday night, Iran announced that within 10 days it would breach the limit of enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers.

Trump said a day earlier he would take the country to war with Iran in order to prevent the nation from getting nuclear weapons

Trump said a day earlier he would take the country to war with Iran in order to prevent the nation from getting nuclear weapons 

In a Monday interview with Time, the president appeared to clash with Pentagon and intelligence officials when he said the threat from Iran has 'been very minor'

In a Monday interview with Time, the president appeared to clash with Pentagon and intelligence officials when he said the threat from Iran has 'been very minor'

Iran announced, a few hours before Trump's interview, that within the next 10 days it would go over the limit of enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers. Trump pulled the U.S. from the nuclear deal last year

Iran announced, a few hours before Trump's interview, that within the next 10 days it would go over the limit of enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers. Trump pulled the U.S. from the nuclear deal last year

Originally all the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – U.S., U.K., Russia, France and China – and Germany were involved with the deal, but Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in May of 2018.

The U.S. has also attributed two recent attack in the Gulf of Oman on Norwegian and Japanese oil tankers on Iran, claiming the intelligence community has enough evidence to show it was Iran's doing.

'It is the assessment of the United States government that the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for the attacks that occurred in the Gulf of Oman today,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at the State Department last week.

'This assessment is based on intelligence, the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to executive the operation, recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping, and the fact that no proxy group operating in the area has the resources and proficiency to act with such a high degree of sophistication,' he continued.

He doubled down on those claimed Sunday morning, asserting he would not have pegged the attack on Iran if the intelligence community wasn't sure.

Trump said he agrees with the intelligence assessment.

Last week two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman were attacked, and the U.S. intelligence community assessment says Iran is behind the attacks

Last week two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman were attacked, and the U.S. intelligence community assessment says Iran is behind the attacks

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled-down that the intelligence community is confident in its assessment, and Trump said he agreed with it as well

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo doubled-down that the intelligence community is confident in its assessment, and Trump said he agreed with it as well

Trump downplayed the rise in tensions in the region, claiming the rhetoric from the Middle Eastern nation is much better now compared to when former President Barack Obama was in office and signed the nuclear deal

Trump downplayed the rise in tensions in the region, claiming the rhetoric from the Middle Eastern nation is much better now compared to when former President Barack Obama was in office and signed the nuclear deal

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan (left) announced Monday that the Pentagon is deploying 1,000 more troops to the Middle East is response to the 'hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups'

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan (left) announced Monday that the Pentagon is deploying 1,000 more troops to the Middle East is response to the 'hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups'

'I don't think too many people don't believe it,' he told Time, but also continued to downplay the spiralling relations with Iran.

'If you look at the rhetoric now compared to the days when they were signing that agreement, where it was always 'death to America, death to America, we will destroy America, we will kill America,' I'm not hearing that too much anymore,' Trump said. 'And I don't expect to.'

The Pentagon also announced Monday it is deploying an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East.

'The recent Iranian attacks validate the reliable, credible intelligence we have received on hostile behavior by Iranian forces and their proxy groups that threaten United States personnel and interests across the region,' acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said in a statement Monday.

Just last month 1,500 troops were deployed to the region as tensions between Tehran and Washington continued to boil.

Pompeo said the U.S. is 'considering a full range of options' to respond to the attacks, and said 'of course' that includes military action.

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