Washington, September 2026 : US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, claiming that Tehran had been “punished greatly” and praising the US military for what he described as a highly effective blockade against the country.
Trump made the remarks while addressing the Steel Across America event in Washington, attended by first responders, military personnel and relatives of victims ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“We’re right now fighting because we have a certain nation that wanted a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, asserting that Iran had been close to achieving that objective. “They were very close to getting it, and now they have no chance of getting it. They will never have a nuclear weapon.”
The US President further warned that Iran would not be permitted to obtain such a weapon and claimed that his administration had taken significant action against Tehran.
“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and they’ve been punished greatly,” Trump said. “We’ve really taken it to them.”
Trump did not provide specific details about the operations or measures undertaken against Iran. However, he praised the US military for its role and described the blockade as exceptionally effective.
“I want to compliment our military,” Trump said. “The job they do is unbelievable. The blockade has been so powerful, so effective. Nobody thought it could go so well.”
Much of Trump’s address, however, focused on the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks. The attacks targeted the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon near Washington and United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to regain control of the hijacked aircraft.
“We will never forget those we lost, and we will never forget the immortal heroes of September 11th, 2001,” Trump said, paying tribute to victims and those who responded to the attacks.
A major feature of the ceremony was a 16,000-pound steel beam recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center’s South Tower. The beam has been transported across the United States as a memorial symbol, highlighting both the devastation caused by the attacks and the extraordinary efforts of first responders and recovery workers.
Trump said the steel served as a reminder of the country's resilience in the face of adversity.
“When we see the steel, we’re reminded that no matter what threat or challenge comes our way, America will fight, America will endure and America will prevail,” he said.
The President also recalled visiting the site of the World Trade Center disaster in New York with members of his construction crew. He praised the firefighters, police officers, military personnel, construction workers and demolition experts who worked amid dangerous conditions during the rescue and recovery operations.
During the ceremony, Trump announced that a new US Coast Guard fast-response cutter would be named after Jeffrey Palazzo, a New York firefighter and Coast Guard reservist who died while attempting to rescue people at the World Trade Center.
Trump also posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States, to Welles Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader and volunteer firefighter who became known as “the man in the red bandana.”
Crowther repeatedly entered dangerous sections of the South Tower to help injured and trapped people reach a surviving stairwell. He ultimately died when the tower collapsed. Survivors later helped identify him after independently recalling that a man with part of his face covered by a red bandana had guided people toward safety.
“Today, in honor of his incredible bravery and all of the other countless unknown acts of heroism that day, it is my privilege to award the very special, the highest honor that we give, highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said.
Crowther’s mother, Alison, accepted the honour alongside his sister Paige. She thanked Trump for recognising her son’s actions and said the award held immense significance for the entire family.
The September 11 attacks were carried out by 19 hijackers affiliated with al-Qaida. The attacks triggered a major US military response, including operations in Afghanistan, and led to sweeping changes in American national security, intelligence and aviation policies.
Crowther’s story has endured as one of the many individual acts of courage associated with September 11. His legacy has since been commemorated through educational and charitable initiatives promoting courage, compassion and public service.
