US President Donald Trump said the United States would “probably” launch further strikes on Iran after Wednesday, warning that Washington was prepared for an even deeper strike and could seize Kharag Island if necessary.“They are behaving very badly, as they have been for the last 47 years,” Trump told reporters in Ankara ahead of the NATO summit. “Last night we attacked them with force when they fired drones and missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. We will probably attack them again tonight.”Trump said the US military has targeted drones, missiles, coastal defense sites, radar and surveillance systems. “Whatever they thought they had rebuilt or the potential they were using there was a goal last night. “Tonight, if we need to… we will strike even harder and deeper.”He also said that the US has attacked Iran’s electricity infrastructure. “We hit their electricity. We hit the things they need to operate,” he said. He said more infrastructure could be targeted if Iran continued its actions. Trump also said Washington could again impose a naval blockade and “occupy Kharg Island.”
Trump says Iran deal ‘done’
Trump said the United States could abandon efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, saying it could achieve its objectives without it. “I don’t know if we’re going to make a deal or not. We might as well do it with no deal because, you know, it’s easier.”He called Iran’s leaders “liars and cheaters” and accused them of reneging on commitments. “They will never build nuclear weapons under our agreement,” he said. “But I don’t know if we’re going to make a deal.”Trump also criticized former President Barack Obama’s nuclear deal, calling it “one of the worst tragedies” in the Middle East. “Our deal is a wall to nuclear weapons. Their deal was a path to nuclear weapons.”Trump said he remains Tehran’s “number one target.” “They had leaders, they left…Now they have another group of leaders. They can go. And you know, I can go too, because I’m their number one target.”Trump said he did not believe full conflict would resume. “I don’t think it’s going to start up again. I think it’s going to start up very quickly.” They hit some ships, and so we attacked them more vigorously. Whatever happens, it ends very quickly.”
Iran’s reaction
Iran’s foreign minister and other officials have issued sharp responses to President Donald Trump’s threats at a NATO summit in Ankara, as Tehran vowed action and warned US troops they would not return alive.Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Twitter: “We respond to obscenity not with obscenity, but with action: fearlessly and with great heroism.”Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran should talk to Trump “in his own language” because he better understands the “language of force”.After Trump threatened to invade Kharg island, parliament spokesman Ibrahim Rezai warned US military personnel: “Not a single American soldier will return alive. Come, we are waiting for you.”The reactions came as Trump said the US could “take over Kharg Island”, warned of more attacks and declared the Iran deal “dead”.