President Donald Trump addressed the crowd from the Truman Balcony at the White House on 4/7, stating, "We are honored to have 150 pilots and their families with us from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, home of the B-2 bomber squadron".

These pilots were invited to the White House for the Independence Day celebrations following their participation in Operation "Night Hammer," which targeted key Iranian nuclear facilities late last month. Their identities were kept secret for security reasons, but Trump encouraged them to reveal themselves.

President Trump stands next to First Lady Melania while speaking at the White House on 4/7. Photo: Reuters

President Trump stands next to First Lady Melania while speaking at the White House on 4/7. Photo: Reuters

"If you want to put your hands up, do it, because you’re incredible pilots," Trump said. "We don’t want to have to keep it a secret".

First Lady Melania Trump, standing beside the President, appeared surprised by her husband's suggestion and subtly shook her head.

At least one person in the crowd raised their hand at Trump's prompting, as the event was broadcast live on television. "I saw hands going up," Trump continued. "Thank you very much. We owe you a lot".

Before the president's speech, three military aircraft, including a B-2 bomber, flew over the White House.

On 22/6, the US intervened in the Iran-Israel conflict by deploying B-2 bombers to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities and then urged Tehran to negotiate. A day later, President Trump announced that Iran and Israel had agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire. On 24/6, both Iran and Israel accepted the ceasefire, each portraying themselves as the victor.

The US and Israel have repeatedly asserted that the conflict dealt a significant blow to Iran's nuclear program, setting back Tehran's "plan to build an atomic bomb" by at least several years. President Trump and White House officials also claimed that Iran didn't have time to evacuate its uranium stockpile from the facilities before the airstrikes.

Media outlets, citing informed sources, reported that a classified report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at the Pentagon assessed that the US strikes had not destroyed Iran's nuclear program but only set it back "a few months".

US President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions aboard Air Force One en route to Bedminster, New Jersey on 4/7. Photo: AFP

US President Donald Trump answers reporters' questions aboard Air Force One en route to Bedminster, New Jersey on 4/7. Photo: AFP

However, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on 4/7, President Trump expressed his belief that Iran's nuclear program had been permanently set back, although Tehran could restart it at a different location.

He stated that Iran has not agreed to allow international inspectors to examine their nuclear program and will not abandon uranium enrichment. "But if they restart their uranium enrichment program, that will be a problem," he said, emphasizing that he would not allow Tehran to continue its nuclear program.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the country's nuclear facilities suffered serious damage during the 12 days of conflict, and Tehran is currently assessing the specific situation. Iran later announced it was suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and affirmed that it would not stop enriching uranium.

Huyen Le (According to Reuters, Fox News)