By Gloria Ogbonna
President Donald Trump said Iran has reached out seeking negotiations after the United States launched a second straight night of military strikes against Iranian targets, but questioned whether Tehran could be trusted to uphold any future agreement. Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday night, Trump said Iran was eager to negotiate despite the recent escalation in hostilities.
“They called a little while ago. They want to make a deal so badly,” Trump told reporters. “I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal. I don’t know if they’re going to honor the deal. That’s the problem.”
Trump’s remarks came just hours after U.S. forces carried out another wave of precision strikes on Iranian military infrastructure. The attacks marked the second consecutive night of American military operations against Iran and represented the first reported U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure since the April 8 ceasefire agreement.
The renewed conflict follows Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes. Washington accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement by targeting civilian shipping and threatening freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway.
When asked why Iran would attack commercial ships while simultaneously seeking renewed diplomacy, Trump suggested the Iranian leadership was acting irrationally.
“They’re sort of crazy,” Trump said. “They’re a little bit out of control. But they still want to make a deal—badly.”
Despite acknowledging Iran’s reported interest in negotiations, Trump made it clear that the United States would not hesitate to respond with overwhelming military force if Iran launched additional attacks.
“We just hit them very hard,” Trump declared. “We hit them 20 to 1. Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them twenty-fold.”
He emphasized that the latest military campaign had significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities while sending a strong message that future aggression would carry severe consequences.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets during Wednesday’s operation. The strikes were aimed at reducing Tehran’s ability to threaten international shipping and civilian mariners traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
Military officials said the targets included Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance facilities, anti-ship missile positions, missile and drone storage sites, naval assets, military logistics hubs, and other strategic infrastructure along Iran’s southern coastline.
CENTCOM stated that the operation followed Tuesday night’s strikes, during which U.S. forces destroyed roughly 80 Iranian military targets, including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast attack boats believed to have been involved in operations near the Strait of Hormuz.
The command reaffirmed that U.S. forces remain prepared for additional operations if ordered.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
A U.S. official told Axios that Wednesday’s strikes also included attacks on two railway bridges in northern Iran, making them the first reported U.S. strikes against Iranian transportation infrastructure since the ceasefire took effect in April.
Additional targets reportedly included coastal radar installations, air defense batteries, anti-ship missile launch sites, and military facilities supporting Iranian operations near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump later reinforced the purpose of the military action in a post on Truth Social, describing the strikes as retaliation for Iran’s attacks on international shipping.
“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran,” Trump wrote. “If it happens again, it will get much worse!”
Vice President JD Vance echoed the administration’s position, saying the United States had made its expectations clear to Tehran. According to Vance, Washington had agreed to ease its naval blockade only if Iran ceased attacking commercial vessels.
“If you shoot at ships, we are going to punch back,” Vance said. “And we’re going to punch back harder than ever before.”
Iranian leaders quickly condemned the American attacks and vowed retaliation.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the country would respond forcefully if further strikes occurred.
“If you strike, you’ll get hit,” Ghalibaf wrote on X. “America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free.”
He also insisted that security in the Strait of Hormuz would be determined by Iran rather than by what he described as American intimidation.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the latest U.S. attacks “will not go unanswered,” while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pledged that Iran would respond with action rather than words.
“We will not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action,” Araghchi said.
The regional security situation continued to deteriorate as neighboring Gulf nations reported heightened military activity.
Kuwait announced that its air defense systems had intercepted hostile missiles and drones, while air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain amid fears of additional Iranian retaliation. Iranian forces had previously targeted U.S. military installations in both Gulf countries following earlier American strikes.
The latest confrontation began after Iran attacked three commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, an action the United States said violated the memorandum of understanding designed to halt hostilities, protect freedom of navigation, and create an opportunity for renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump declared that he considered the ceasefire effectively “over.” However, during his remarks aboard Air Force One, he revealed that Iran had nevertheless reached out seeking renewed talks.
While acknowledging Tehran’s apparent willingness to negotiate, Trump remained skeptical about whether any future agreement could be trusted, arguing that Iran’s recent actions raised serious doubts about its commitment to honoring diplomatic commitments.
With military operations intensifying, both Washington and Tehran continue to exchange warnings, raising concerns that the confrontation could expand into a broader regional conflict if diplomatic efforts fail to prevent further escalation.
Source Breitbart
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