Washington: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has developed missiles capable of reaching Europe and targeting American cities, including San Diego and Los Angeles.
Speaking at an election rally in Mississippi, Trump said the United States did not start the war with Iran, claiming that Tehran had initiated hostilities against Washington.
Defending the economic consequences of military action, Trump said he had expected oil prices to rise much higher than they had. He maintained that he was fully prepared for the consequences because the United States had no alternative and argued that the military operation should have been launched much earlier.
Commenting on the ceasefire, Trump said he had never been particularly supportive of the arrangement. He said the United States had tried to act responsibly by agreeing to a ceasefire, but described the move as a waste of time.
Trump also claimed that the US naval blockade had placed Iran under significant pressure and reiterated that military action against Tehran had been necessary. He added that oil prices were now lower than expected.
Referring to his first presidential term, Trump cited the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and claimed that the United States had complete control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Offers $1 Million Reward for Information Leading to Voter Fraud Conviction
Separately, Trump has promised a $1 million reward to anyone whose information leads to a conviction in a voter fraud case.
The announcement comes just eight days before the US midterm elections, with approximately 30 million voters reportedly having already cast their ballots.
According to reports, Trump did not explain how the reward money would be funded or what mechanism would be used to administer the programme.
Election assessments indicate that instances of widespread voting by non-US citizens are extremely rare, despite recurring political claims about non-citizen voting.
Trump’s announcement could intensify the political debate over election integrity, voter fraud allegations and safeguards surrounding the American electoral process.