President Trump pays tribute to the Marines, soldiers and sailors killed in the 1983 Beirut bombing, at the White House on Thursday, October 25, 2018. (Screen capture: YouTube)

(CNSNews.com) – President Trump paid tribute Thursday to the U.S. Marines, sailors and soldiers killed in a suicide bombing in Beirut 35 years ago, and won sustained applause from gathered families, veterans and commanders by highlighting actions being taken against the regime in Tehran and its terrorist proxy Hezbollah today.

Trump told the ceremony in the East Room of the White House that those killed in the Lebanese capital that day “were among the very first to give their lives in the battle against radical Islamic terrorism – the battle that we are winning, and we will win.”

Three U.S. soldiers, 18 sailors, and 220 Marines were killed when an explosive-laden truck was driven into the lobby of bomb a building serving as the Marine barracks at Beirut International Airport on October 23, 1983.

A separate suicide bombing shortly afterwards killed 58 French paratroopers in their headquarters in the city, bringing down a nine-story building.

“It was the single deadliest day for the Marines since Iwo Jima,” said the president, referring to the World War II battle in the Pacific in 1945.

“The attack was carried out by Hezbollah, which Iran was instrumental in founding a year earlier to advance its radical agenda, and remains its main patron today,” Trump said.

“And we are doing a big number on Iran today,” he added, his words drowned out by enthusiastic cheering and applause.

Trump said Iran is “not the same country they were when I took office,” pointing to anti-government street protests and the collapse of the Iranian currency, and suggesting the regime was now more focused on surviving than on expanding its influence towards the Mediterranean.

“We will use every instrument of our national power to confront the sinister forces of terrorism,” he said, drawing more cheers when he added that that was one reason for his decision this year to withdraw the U.S. from “the Iran nuclear disaster” – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal negotiated with Iran by his predecessor and five other governments.

Trump noted that the remaining U.S. sanctions against Iran that were eased under the JCPOA will be reimposed on November 5. That day sees the restoration of sanctions targeting the energy and banking sectors. Other sanctions were put back in place in August.

“And they will be followed up with even more sanctions to address the full range of Iran’s malign conduct,” he said.

Rescue workers work by hand and with picks and jackhammers during recovery operations at the scene of the Oct. 23, 1983 bombing. (Photo: Marines.mil)

Turning to Hezbollah, Trump noted that “no terrorist group, other than al-Qaeda, has more American blood on its hands.”

Hezbollah also bombed the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, killing 63 people, including 17 Americans. Another bombing targeting the U.S. Embassy annex in September 1983 killed 24 people, including two Americans – a soldier and a sailor.)

Trump told the event that the past year has seen the U.S. impose the largest number of sanctions against Hezbollah in a single year.

“Just a few moments ago, I signed legislation imposing even more hard-hitting sanctions on Hezbollah, to further starve them of their funds,” he added, in reference to the bipartisan Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act, which expands the list of those eligible for sanctions for doing business with the Shi’ite terrorist group.

Trump said the U.S. will continue to “target, disrupt, and dismantle” its operational and financing networks.

“And we will never forget what they did to our great Marines in Beirut. We will never forget.”

Iran provides Hezbollah with an estimated $700-$800 million a year, accounting for 70-80 percent of the group’s budget, according to a detailed 2017 Foundation for Defense of Democracies report on Hezbollah financing.

Previous U.S. Treasury actions targeting Hezbollah this year included measures introduced in February and May, as well as designating the group’s top leadership in a concerted move with six Sunni Gulf states.