The world breathes sighs of relief in unison when the most recent statement that has come from United States President Donald Trump suggests peace and calmness after days of stoking World War 3 fears.
Trump backed down from any form of military retaliation against Iran, saying that Tehran's firing of missiles against US bases in Iraq Wednesday night was intended not to kill troops and civilians.
Trump is now calling for renewed diplomacy with Iran, suggesting that both nations deescalate tensions that have spun out of control when he ordered the drone strike that killed top Iranian general, Qasam Soleimani.
For the past six days, the world watched in horror as another world war looms over. With Trump's latest call for diplomacy with Iran, the world can now sit at peace hoping that no death and hunger could come in the next years.
Here's a portion of Trump's speech verbatim as published on the official website of the White House.
"To the people and leaders of Iran: We want you to have a future and a great future - one that you deserve, one of prosperity at home, and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it," Trump said in his speech.
Instead of a military escalation, Trump said he would increase economic sanctions against Iran for what he deemed as malpractices Tehran committed for the past years.
In defense of his ordered drone strike that killed Soleimani, he said the Iranian general was behind proxy wars in the Middle East that resulted in the worst human atrocities. Trump said Soleimani trained terrorists, including Hezbollah, to launch attacks against civilians.
Trump added that Iran fueled civil wars across the Middle East; funding terrorist attacks in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Trump went on the length saying that Iran was able to fund its civil wars in the region using the money it received after the signing of the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2013 with then-incumbent Barack Obama. That year, Iran was given $150 billion on top of $1.8 billion in cash, Trump alleged.
Political observers agreed that Iran's attack of US military bases without casualties is a mere "saving of face," wanting to know the world that it responded and avenged Soleiman's killing but no desire to start a full-blown war.
Still, analysts believed that a military clash between the US and Iran is just lurking in the corner. They said Iran is behind many proxy groups in the Middle East that could attack American troops. These proxy groups can also stage attacks against US' allies, like Israel and Saudi Arabian. These attacks are on top of possible cyber strikes that Iran is capable of.
Indeed, in his speech, Trump said that he would call for NATO - an alliance of 29 nations - to become more involved in the Middle East.
