US President Donald Trump speaks about the situation with Iran in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, DC, January 8, 2020. – President Donald Trump said Wednesday Iran appeared to be “standing down” after missile strikes on US troop bases in Iraq that resulted in no American or Iraqi deaths.”All of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases. Our great American forces are prepared for anything,” he said in an address to the nation from the White House. (Photo by Eric BARADAT / AFP) (Photo by ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images)

During Donald Trump‘s term in office, fear of World War III has been sparked twice; once during conflict with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and more recently with Iranian powers. Mere days into the new decade and the US President ordered strikes on Baghdad airport where a US missile killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani as an extreme means to prevent imminent attacks on America, and in retaliation for the killing of an American contractor at an Iraqi military base. What ensued was mass mourning across the country of Iran as parliament chanted “death to America” – their promise attempted.

Yesterday, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles on air bases housing US forces in Iraq. It came after Iran sent a formal oral warning to Iraqi officials, according to Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s office. No one was killed or badly injured and following the attack, Trump has addressed the nation without military escalation, though it came with a stark warning to terrorists.

“The American people should be extremely grateful and happy,” the President opened. “No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime.”

He continued, “Iranian forces appear to be standing down which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world… For far too long, all the way back to 1979 to be exact, nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and destabilising behaviour in the Middle East and beyond. Those days are over. Iran has been the leading sponsor of terrorism and their pursuit of nuclear weapons that threatens the civilised world. We will never let that happen. Last week, we took decisive action to stop a ruthless terrorist from threatening American lives. At my direction, United States Military eliminated the world’s top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani.”

Trump went onto to list the crimes and “absolute worst atrocities” the head of the Quds force committed whilst in power, which included taking the lives of American troops.

“Soleimani’s hands were drenched in American and Iranian blood – he should have been terminated long ago. By removing Soleimani we have sent a powerful message to terrorists: if you value your own life, you will not threaten the lives of our people.”

Now, the White house will impose harsh sanctions on the Iranian regime. Trump warned that the “powerful sanctions” would remain until Iran changes its behaviour. In turn, the economic cost of living in Iran has skyrocketed and has put extreme domestic pressure on low and middle class civilians. As with war, innocent people have been put in the crosshairs of government-level war. Cardi B shared heartbreaking images to her 57.5 million followers, depicting the Iran people crying in the streets.

“Is this democracy? Are we humans or not? What should we do? You tell us. Im saying, we love Americans, but we hate your President.”

Experts believe it is too early to tell if the recent events will in fact spark World War III, but the imposed sanctions are likely to increase conflict, not deescalate the situation. Have we not learned from history? Time will tell.

Stay tuned for further developments.