WASHINGTON _ Six days of fear over full-scale war with Iran broke into relief on Wednesday as President Donald Trump said he would refrain from hitting back over Tehran's strikes on military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq.
His decision to step back from an escalating confrontation with Tehran that began with the killing of an American contractor, and resulted in Trump's targeted killing of Iran's top general, has hit pause on a conflict that Washington feared was quickly spiraling out of control.
"The American people should be extremely grateful and happy," Trump said, flanked by military officials and senior Cabinet members. "Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world."
