Speaking on Iranian state television on Thursday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) aerospace commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, elaborated on the operation the previos day.

"We didn't seek to kill. We sought to hit the enemy's military machine."

Hajizadeh added that expelling American troops from the Middle East would be "appropriate revenge" for the death of IRGC Major General Qassem Soleimani, who the US assassinated in a drone strike at Baghdad airport on Friday.

He said that the attack would be the start of a series of similar strikes across the region.

Trump thanked an "early warning system" for tipping the US military off about the incoming Iranian missiles on Wednesday morning, averting casualties at the bases. However, the Iraqi government confirmed that it received advance warning of the strikes, enabling US troops to take precautionary measures and activate air defense systems. Nevertheless, the missiles struck with pinpoint accuracy, demonstrating the advancement of Tehran's military technology in recent years.

Transcript:

- We struck with our missiles areas in the American airbase (in Iraq) that was used for equipping attack helicopters

- We were able to target the barracks of US soldiers in airbase but we avoided that because our aim was to target the command center

- We struck the US command center of the Ain al-Assad base and images reveal the extent of its destruction

- US President Trump use to visit Ain al-Assad airbase when he visits Iraq

- Our aim was to create terror and panic in hearts of US forces (in airbase)

- US forces transported its injured soldiers to Zionist entity (Israel) using 9 airplanes

- We have not heard of any targeting of American military bases without subsequent US retaliation ever since WWII

- What we heard from Trump is nonsense, America could have attacked Iran yet it was focusing on media action

- There are many targets in Iran yet America is unable to carry out such operations

- The world now knows who is the one that lost the battle

- US forces will inevitably leave the region

- The Resistance Axis is the one that will kick out American forces from the region

- There is no doubt that there are dead & injured among the US forces even though we targeted the base's command centers

- The next step (of the response) will be carried out by the factions of the Resistance Axis

- The next response will not be merely a 'slap', but rather a step that will transform the situation of the region entirely

- Our first operation does not equal blood of the martyrs, the leader has announced that the retaliation will be achieved with the full withdrawal of US forces from region

- We are not criminals like the Americans, we could have targeted the residential buildings within the US base

- A new phase of the Revolution has begun with Soleimani's martyrdom

- What's important is we managed to break prestige of America

- We were expecting a response from US and we were prepared to respond to their response

- I tell the states overlooking Persian Gulf: America will not move to rescue you

- This is the first time that US bases are targeted since WWII

- During the operation targeting the US base we were expecting to receive a response, and we were prepared for all-out war

- We decided to target the largest US base and the furthest away from Iranian borders

- We could have designed operation to kill 500 in the 1st step, & if they responded, we could have killed 4,000-5,000 in 2nd & 3rd steps

The American call for cooperation was "unbelievable" as long as the US persists on animosity, Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in what seems to be Tehran's first reaction to Donald Trump's address to the nation.

Donald Trump has taken a softened stance when addressing the nation after it emerged that Iran's missile strikes have caused only limited damage and inflicted no casualties to US bases in Iraq.

While habitually bashing "Iranian aggression," he announced that Iran will be slapped with "punishing economic sanctions" that will remain in place until it "changes its behavior."

Going on, Trump said that "the time has come" for five world powers which brokered the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran to break away from its "remnants," calling on them to "work together toward making a deal with Iran that makes the world a safer and more peaceful place."

The prime minister announced that he had instructed Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi to meet with his counterparts in Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States to discuss growing tensions between Washington and Tehran. He also ordered General Qamar Javed Bajwa, chief of Pakistan's army staff, to consult with relevant military leaders about the situation.

"Pakistan is ready to play its role for peace but it can never again be part of any war," Khan wrote.

Islamabad also called on the UN Security Council to help resolve the crisis. Qureshi said on Wednesday that the standoff must be resolved through dialogue, and that the region "simply cannot afford another war."

Trump also called for a NATO presence in the Middle East.

Trump told reporters on Thursday that a new round of economic sanctions on Iran are "done" and will be applied pending an announcement by the Department of the Treasury.

"It's already been done... They were very severe, but now it's increased substantially."

The president also addressed the crash of the Ukrainian International Airlines plane, which hit the ground shortly after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing 176 people on board. A preliminary Iranian report suggested that the Boeing 737-800 caught fire and tried to turn around before crashing, while Ukrainian authorities are investigating whether a terrorist attack or "surface-to-air" missile brought down the airliner.

Trump stopped short of accusing Tehran, saying that he has "suspicions" that "somebody could have made a mistake."

Tehran has yet to hand over the plane's black box, and in the meantime, the US media has reported anonymous US officials as saying the aircraft was"highly likely" brought down by Iranian air defenses. The Pentagon, however, is refusing to comment on the matter.

Trump suggested that NATO rename itself "NATOME," with "ME" standing for 'Middle East.' The alliance, he suggested, could send more personnel to the region, "as opposed to us."

"We can come home...and use NATO. This is an international problem. We caught ISIS [Islamic State, IS], we did Europe a big favor. "

A move which while far from ideal does hint that US troops would be out of the region.

Trump limited himself to saying the plane was "flying in a rough neighborhood."

Though Trump opted not to retaliate to the Iranian missile strike with military force, tensions between the US and Iran remain high. Iranian military officials warned on Thursday of further attacks, and as Trump spoke to reporters, the House of Representatives held a vote on restricting Trump's powers to declare war on Iran.

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