WASHINGTON ( WNAM MONITORING): The US military said it had struck multiple Iranian targets on Thursday after US President Donald Trump warned that the country would be hit “very hard” if no peace deal is finalized.
US Central Command said early Thursday that its forces carried out what it called defensive strikes.
It said American forces began “additional self-defense strikes today at 5:15 p.m. ET against multiple targets in Iran,” adding “The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.”
Trump told reporters at the White House: “We’re going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard,” citing Iran’s downing of an Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.
The president reiterated that Iran will be hit on Wednesday. Trump said the United States is still looking to make a deal.
“We want a deal that is meaningful, we want a deal that works,” Trump added about the negotiations with Iran.
Trump said that Iran has already agreed to not obtaining a nuclear weapon, but the agreement still needs to be signed.
Trump also revealed that the US has been secretly taking out “millions of barrels of oils” from Iran.
“Now that they figured it out, I can tell you… I wanted to say it so badly, I didn’t want to ruin it, but it was very hard,” Trump said. “And that’s why it’s at $85-90 a barrel, instead of $250,” he added.
‘Unwise’
Iran would be “unwise” to challenge US further after it carried out strikes overnight in retaliation for the downing of a US Apache helicopter, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday.
“Right now, they’re defensive strikes to ensure we protect our people. Again, Iran would be unwise to challenge us further,” Hegseth said during a visit to the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
“President Trump is seeking a deal. But not just a deal, a great deal on behalf of the American people so that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”
