US President Donald Trump gives his first televised address to his nation since he authorised the targeted killing of Gen Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. His speech is being pegged as one of the greatest tests of his presidency.

In his opening words, Trump defended his targeted killing last week of Gen Soleimani and added that Americans should be "extremely grateful and happy" with the outcome.

Trump said that Iran's days of being an unstable nation are at an end. "As long as I am the President, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon," US President Donald Trump said.

Giving an official stock of losses suffered during the missile strike by Iran on US soldier housing camps in Iraq, the US President confirmed that no US citizens were killed in the incident. "No Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties. All our soldiers are safe, only minimal damages were sustained at our military bases," he told the United States via a televised address fro White House in Washington DC.

Trump said that Iran appears to be standing down, "which is a good thing for all parties concerned." However, he reiterated that Iran was not a stable nation 'which has been engaging in terrorist activities'.

Trump claimed that the previous Iran Nuclear Deal enabled an unstable Iran to bolster its nuclear armament. But even as he criticised the old nuclear deal, famously brokered by Barack Obama with NATO's help, he hinted at a fresh deal an said, "Iran can be a great nation... Peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment terrorism."

"Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end its support to terror. We must work together to make a deal with Iran to make a world a more peaceful place," Donald Trump said.

He also sought NATO's intervention in achieving peace in the Middle East.

Trump claimed that the United States ended the Islamic State, which was a natural enemy of Iran.

He also said that the US has achieved 100 per cent autonomy for its oil and gas needs and has become the biggest supplier of the two in the world.

At the end of his speech, US President Donald Trump Iranian leadership and people that he wants them to have a great future. "US is ready to embrace peace," he said.

US-Iran crisis

The tensions between Iran and the United States reached a tipping point on Friday when the US missile strike killed the second-most powerful man in Iran - Gen Qassem Soleimani. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops.

Iran’s attack was its most brazen direct assault on America since the 1979 seizing of the US Embassy in Tehran. Though Iran's actions did not appear to result in any American casualties, according to a US official. The missiles targeted two bases one in the northern Iraqi city in Irbil and the other at Ain al-Asad in western Iraq.

Iran has said that it is not looking for war or escalation in tension. There is also hope for the US to withdraw from the rising tensions as Trump, who is seeking reelection at the end of the year, campaigned for president on a promise to keep the United States from engaging in "endless war".

The White House said Trump plans to address the nation at 11 am EST (09:30 pm IST) Wednesday.

(With inputs from AP)