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President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that soldiers killed in the Iran war had repeated his administration's position that the country must not have a nuclear weapon before their passing.
Trump attended a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware honoring soldiers killed in the Iran war. Before boarding Air Force One to attend the transfer, he told reporters that the they were honoring "great heroes" and claimed "all of them" said the U.S. could not let Iran build a nuclear weapon.
"We're going to Dover, some of you are going with us, to honor our heroes. And they are indeed great heroes, actually," he said.
"They said, and all of them said very strongly, 'We can't let, we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. They won't have a nuclear weapon,'" the president continued. "So we're going to honor them, and one of the hardest things to do — for me, it's one of the hardest things to do as a president — but has to be done." (RELATED: Trump DOJ Reportedly Investigating GOP Rep. Cory Mills)
Trump has frequently said the U.S. cannot allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon, with his White House documenting multiple examples of him making the argument.
In an April 1 primetime address, Trump recalled attending two dignified transfers back in March, according to ABC News "Every single one of the people, their loved ones, said, 'Please, sir, please, finish the job.' Every one of them. And we are going to finish the job, and we're going to finish it very fast," he said.
The Independent asked Trump on Wednesday what his message would be to the soldiers' families, arguing that "Americans are strongly against this war."
"Well, Americans aren't against the war," Trump responded. "A poll just came out. Americans don't want high gasoline prices, but they're not against the war. That just came out loud and clear in a poll. Nobody wants Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Do you want Iran to have a nuclear weapon? Do you think it's good?"
It is unclear what poll Trump was speaking about, The Independent reported.
The war with Iran began when the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28 with strikes on Iran. The Islamic Republic retaliated by attacking U.S. military forces, Israel, and multiple Gulf States, as well as triggering trade disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump announced a ceasefire in early April, which was followed by the U.S. and Iran signing a memorandum of understanding in June.
However, negotiations fell apart in early July, with Trump reimposing sanctions on Iran after reports of merchant ships being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. and Iran have launched strikes against each other in the days since.
The White House referred the Daily Caller to Trump's comments.
