Trump says he stopped Iran strike with just 10 minutes to spare because he was concerned about casualties originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

President Donald Trump on Friday reacted on Twitter to reports that he ordered a military strike on Iran for shooting down an American drone, but then reversed his decision after the plan was underway, saying he called off the attack with just 10 minutes to spare because he was concerned about potential casualties.

In a series of tweets, he said, "We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not ... proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!"

....proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2019

Sources told ABC News the reversal Thursday night was against the advice of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton.

(MORE: Trump says Iranian shootdown of US military drone may have been a 'mistake')

The plan and reversal was first reported by The New York Times.

A senior level administration source briefed on the plan says it would have escalated the situation quickly had it been carried out. Officials feared the attack could have caused hundreds of civilian casualties.

Trump elaborated on his decision in an excerpt of an interview with NBC News' Chuck Todd that aired Friday afternoon.

Trump said "nothing was green-lighted until the very end because things change" and that he never gave a final warning.

He said planes were not yet in the air but as the plan got close to needing final approval -- "to a point you would not turn back, you could not turn back" -- he said he was asked: “Sir, we are ready to go, we would like a decision.”

"And I said, “I want to know something before you go. How many people would be killed, in this case Iranians?” he told Todd.

When told approximately 150 could die, Trump said he thought, "I didn't like it. I didn't think it was proportionate."

PHOTO: President Donald Trump listens to a question during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, June 20, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) More

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday, answering a reporter's question, said she had not been informed of the impending strike.

(MORE: Pelosi: 'There's no appetite for going to war' with Iran, but GOP hawks warn president against inaction )

PHOTO: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks briefly with reporters at a bipartisan bill signing ceremony at the Capitol in Washington on June 21, 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) More

Later, in a statement, she said, "We are in an extremely dangerous and sensitive situation with Iran. We must calibrate a response that de-escalates and advances American interests, and we must be clear as to what those interests are.

"During our meeting with the President at the White House, Congressional Leaders stressed the necessity that we work with our allies and not strengthen the hand of Iran's hardliners. Democratic Leaders emphasized that hostilities must not be initiated without the approval of Congress," Pelosi said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was not informed, either, a source said.

Iran shot down a U.S. drone early Thursday, claiming it had flown into the country's airspace. The U.S. government claims it was operating in international airspace.

PHOTO: Graphic pinpoints the drone shooting locations provided by the U.S. and Iran and shows how they are conflict in location. (AP) More

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