Iran attacks bases housing US troops

President Trump said today that Iraq should eventually be able to run its own affairs, adding that he wants the US to be reimbursed for what it built in the country.

He added, “If we do get out, you know, we’ve spent a tremendous amount of money on building airports and building — it’s one of the largest embassies we have in the world — and we want to be reimbursed for the various costs that we’ve had. And they’re very significant.”

He also said his threat of sanctions against the country would only become a reality if the US is “not treated with respect.”

Watch the moment:

President Trump wouldn’t say Tuesday whether there were any signs of an imminent retaliation by Iran on the US following the US targeting of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Asked in the Oval Office whether there were any signs of imminent retaliation by Iran, Trump pivoted, saying, “Well don’t forget, in our case, it was retaliation, because they were there first. … just in the very short period of time, two people dead, people badly injured, and then before that there were other attacks. And look at what he was planning.”

Trump added that what Soleimani was planning to do to the US, which remains classified, will be discussed Wednesday morning with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the joint chiefs of staff.

Trump asserted that the US is prepared for an attack by Iran.

Watch the moment:

President Trump says he doesn’t know anything about a letter circulated Monday suggesting inaccurately that the US would withdraw troops from Iraq. 

Speaking in the Oval Office moments ago, Trump said he had no knowledge of the document. His secretary of state, who was also in the Oval Office, called the letter a “mistake.”

Trump said he would like to withdraw US troops from Iraq at some point. But he said the timing wasn’t right to leave now.

He said he’d only consider sanctions on the country if the US isn’t treated with respect.

Watch:

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said today that the “exquisite intelligence” on the threat posed by Iranian general Qasem Soleimani will only be shared with a group of congressional leaders known as the Gang of Eight.

He went on to say that “most members (of Congress) will not have access to that" information. 

Here's what Esper said about his decision and upcoming meeting with lawmakers:

President Trump claims Iran's top commander was planning a "big attack" before the US killed him.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump didn't provide additional details of intelligence that officials have said justified the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani.

Trump said he didn't think anyone could complain about the strike. 

Asked about his threat to target cultural sites in Iran, President Trump told reporters he likes to follow laws — but that there will be repercussions for Iran if they attack the US.

Remember: An attack on a cultural site would violate several international treaties and would likely be considered a war crime.

Trump today said the US has to be "gentle" if Iran kills Americans. But he added if there were further attacks, Iran would "suffer consequences."

Watch the moment:

President Trump defended the US strike that killed Iran's top military commander, telling reporters that lives were saved.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump called Qasem Soleimani a "terrorist" and said he was in Baghdad — where the strike occurred — on "bad business."

The President said the US had been following Soleimani's path for days.

Trump is speaking alongside his Greek counterpart. The meeting is ongoing.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the United States “not leaving Iraq” amid confusion over an unsigned letter Monday from a US commander in Iraq that seemed to indicate they would withdraw troops from Iraq. 

Esper, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon today, said a “draft unsigned letter does not constitute a policy change and there is no signed letter to the best of my knowledge."

He continued: "I have asked the question, so there may be people trying to create confusion but we should focus on this much what I have said a few times now — our policy has not changed. We are in Iraq and we are there to support Iraqi forces and Iraqi government become a strong, independent and prosperous country.”

Watch the moment:

President Trump tweeted about his meeting yesterday with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.

More context: The tweet comes moments after the White House Correspondents' Association released a statement criticizing the White House for a lack of transparency over the meeting. The meeting was not in the public schedule sent to press each day, nor had there previously been any statements released by the White House about the meeting.