U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Iran with a “very severe strike” if Tehran is confirmed to have been involved in an incident involving the pilot of a Flydubai aircraft during a flight, saying he believes such involvement is likely.
Asked by a journalist whether the United States would respond if Iran were found responsible, Trump said the Iranians would “receive a very severe strike.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he believed Iran was involved, while stopping short of making a definitive statement.
“I say the answer is yes, based on what I’m hearing, but we are working on this right at this moment,” he said.
In an interview with Time magazine published Thursday, Trump discussed a possible intensification of attacks against Iran following the midterm elections scheduled for early November.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon plans to send an aircraft carrier and other ships to the region as part of a reinforcement involving between 9,000 and 10,000 additional troops, expected to arrive by the end of November.
The United States currently has two aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East. It remains unclear whether the number will rise to three or remain at two through the replacement of one of the vessels.
Source: AFP
