Trump Discusses Iran and Recent Strikes
President Trump indicated that Iran had reached out, expressing a desire for a deal, following U.S. strikes against Iranian targets for two consecutive nights. However, he raised doubts about whether Iran truly “deserved” a deal and issued a warning that any further assaults would be met with overwhelming force.
On his flight back to Washington from a NATO summit, Trump shared that Iran had contacted the U.S. in reaction to the recent military actions. This marked the first U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure since a ceasefire was established on April 8, which followed an Iranian attack on a commercial vessel traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
“They called us a while ago. They really want a deal,” Trump stated. “I don’t know if they deserve the contract. I don’t know if they’re going to honor the contract. That’s the question,” he added.
When questioned about why Iran would target commercial ships if it sought an agreement, Trump maintained that Iran was still interested in negotiations but described their administration’s actions as “kind of crazy” and “a little bit out of control.”
“They want an agreement; it’s terrible,” he remarked.
Trump also conveyed that the operations demonstrated the U.S. had effectively accomplished its primary military objectives, cautioning that future Iranian attacks would provoke an even stronger response.
“We just hit them hard,” he emphasized. “We hit them 20 to 1. Every time they hit us, we’re gonna hit them 20.” This comment came after the U.S. Central Command announced additional strikes against Iran, which were aimed at reducing Iran’s capacity to assault commercial shipping and civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom reported that the U.S. military targeted around 90 Iranian military assets along the coastline, including air defense systems and missile storage sites, among others. This operation followed another attack the previous night, wherein U.S. forces struck approximately 80 military sites in Iran after the Iranian attack on three commercial vessels, deemed a violation of the ceasefire.
The military stated it remains on high alert and prepared for operations directed by the commander-in-chief.
Additionally, U.S. officials confirmed strikes on northern Iranian railway bridges, marking the first documented U.S. action against Iranian infrastructure since the ceasefire. Other targets reportedly included radar systems and military assets affecting Iran’s operations near the strategic waterway.
Trump asserted that these strikes were a direct response to Iran’s previous assaults on commercial vessels. He mentioned on Truth Social, “This is in retaliation for yesterday’s ship bombing by Iran. If it happens again, it will be even worse!”
Vice President J.D. Vance reflected a similar view, indicating that the understanding with Tehran was that if Iran ceased its attacks on ships, the U.S. would lift the blockade, but further aggression would lead to a stronger U.S. response.
“If you shoot at the ship, we’re going to fight back, and we’re going to fight back harder than ever,” Vance stated.
In a response to the U.S. actions, Iranian authorities threatened retaliation. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned, “If we attack, we will suffer,” emphasizing that America has not yet learned that bullying has consequences.
Additionally, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Ghalibabadi noted that the American attack “will not go unanswered” and that Iran would respond to aggression with measured action.
Recent days have seen air raid sirens in Bahrain as Iranian forces targeted U.S. military installations in the region following the U.S. strikes. This escalation came after Iranian assaults on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, declared a breach of the ceasefire agreement aimed at halting hostilities and restoring navigation freedom.
Trump suggested that the ceasefire is “over” but noted that Iran still reached out for possible renegotiation, albeit with skepticism about their reliability in honoring future agreements.
