WASHINGTON: After a brief diplomatic push for a deal with Iran, the United States has launched another round of strikes on Iranian targets, marking the second wave of attacks in 48 hours as tensions between Washington and Tehran enter a critical phase.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that he does not know whether Washington and Iran are returning to a full-fledged war, but told reporters that Iran “badly” wants to make a deal to cease escalating hostilities in the Middle East.
Speaking aboard Air Force One after returning from a NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said the U.S. had “already won militarily” and claimed Iran had limited military capabilities remaining.
Trump said Iran had called recently and wanted to negotiate, but he questioned whether Tehran could be trusted to follow through with any agreement.
“I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal,” Trump said, adding that he was uncertain whether Iran would honor any future agreement.
The Iranian government has not publicly confirmed Trump’s comments about seeking negotiations.
The remarks came after the United States launched another wave of strikes against Iran, marking the second series of attacks within 48 hours. The U.S. military said it targeted around 90 locations in the latest operation.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes aimed to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to CENTCOM, the targets included air defense systems, coastal surveillance facilities, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities and military supply infrastructure along Iran’s coastline.
The military released a video of the strikes on social media, saying the latest attacks followed earlier operations against Iranian targets.
Iran’s military said eight soldiers were killed in Tuesday’s strikes, with several targets located near the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest developments come amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides facing pressure over security concerns in the region.
