(Donald Trump. Photo Credit: BBC News)
US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could carry out further military strikes against Iran, saying Tehran would face overwhelming force amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump said the US was prepared to intensify military action against Iran, arguing that the country was no longer in a position to mount an effective response.
He said the US would strike hard both that night and the following day, insisting there was nothing Iran could do about it, and claimed the country had nothing to show for itself beyond loud rhetoric.
The president also downplayed the significance of the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran last month, calling it a test that ultimately failed because, in his view, Iran had not honoured its commitments.
He accused Iranian leaders of acting in bad faith, while Tehran has insisted that the agreement acknowledged its authority over the Strait of Hormuz and justified its rules governing vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
On the anti-government protests taking place in Iran, Trump cautioned against urging demonstrators to confront the regime, arguing that civilians remained significantly outmatched by Iran’s security forces.
Although he had previously suggested that Iranians could take back control of their government, he said he had never believed this would happen easily given the current circumstances.
He also rejected suggestions that his administration had sidelined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu through its engagement with Iran.
While acknowledging occasional policy disagreements with the Israeli leader, Trump reaffirmed his confidence in Netanyahu’s leadership, calling him an effective wartime prime minister, and argued that the close working relationship between their administrations had been key to safeguarding Israel’s security.
Asked about Israel’s upcoming elections, Trump said he was not particularly familiar with most of Netanyahu’s likely challengers but stressed that he maintains a strong working relationship with the Israeli leader.
On the broader regional crisis, Trump said the United States had made significant progress in efforts to disarm Hamas and that work was ongoing to recover the remains of Israeli hostages.
