Washington, September 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
US President Donald Trump on Friday vowed that Iran would never acquire a nuclear weapon as he marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and paid tribute to the victims, first responders and US troops.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will never ever have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said during a ceremony commemorating the 9/11 victims.
Trump also honoured American service members serving abroad, first responders and families who lost loved ones in the attacks. “We have to be strong and we have to be smart,” he said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington was increasing economic pressure on Iran and would “finish this fight”. He also said US forces were working to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
During the ceremony, the names of the 184 people killed at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77 were read aloud, followed by solemn music, a moment of silence and prayer.
“We were all New Yorkers that day,” Trump said, adding that no one could ever prepare for an event like 9/11.
Trump also paid tribute to New York firefighter Timmy Stackpole, who returned to duty after suffering severe burns but was later killed while responding to the attacks. He recognised Stackpole’s widow, Tara, and members of their family, noting that their children had carried forward their father’s legacy through military service, firefighting and raising families.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged that US officials had failed to recognise the danger in time to prevent the attacks. “We did what we knew to do but by definition, it was not enough,” she said, adding that she continued to carry “deep personal remorse” over the suffering of victims’ families and the trauma endured by the country.
Rice recalled being rushed to a White House bunker and seeing television images of the smoking crater at the Pentagon. She also remembered rescuers working for more than 24 hours with virtually no rest.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine honoured the service members and civilians who entered smoke and fire to rescue others, as well as the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, who fought back against the hijackers.
“We can’t restore what was taken from us that day, but we can make and continue to hold a solemn promise, never to forget,” Caine said.
The September 11, 2001 attacks killed 2,977 people. Hijackers crashed two passenger planes into New York’s World Trade Centre and another into the Pentagon. A fourth aircraft crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew attempted to overpower the hijackers.
The attacks prompted NATO to invoke Article 5 of its collective-defence provision for the first time. Under the clause, an armed attack against one member is treated as an attack against all.
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