(CNN) President Donald Trump decided Wednesday that taking his foot off the gas in the rapidly escalating conflict between the United States and Iran was the right move.

Flanked by the Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a legion of high-ranking military officers, Trump spoke carefully from two teleprompters set up in the back of the room -- delivering the message that, despite Iran launching more than a dozen missile strikes at two sites in Iraq less than 24 hours ago, he was comfortable with calling an end to the outright hostilities.

"The American people should be extremely grateful and happy," Trump said, noting that no Americans or Iraqis had been killed in the strikes. He added: "Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties and a good thing for the world."

Trump's embrace of de-escalation was presaged by comments made by two Republican senators with his ear.

"In my view, retaliation for the sake of retaliation is not necessary at this time," tweeted South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham just hours before Trump spoke to the country. "What is necessary is to lay out our strategic objectives regarding Iran in a simple and firm fashion."

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