Trump says truce with Iran remains in place after attack on US ships: “They played with us. We swept them”
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the truce with Iran remains in force, despite the exchange of fire in the Strait of Hormuz, where US military ships have been targeted by missile attacks, drones and small boats, reports AFP and The Guardian.
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“They played us today. We swept them. They played. I call it a fluke,” Trump told reporters about the latest mutual attacks.
The statements of the American leader come at a time when Washington is still waiting for Tehran's response to the last American proposal for the final end of the conflict.
In an interview given to ABC News, the American leader described the confrontation as a “love tap” (a light blow), insisting that this episode does not change the armistice situation. “Missiles were fired at our destroyers, but they were easily intercepted. Drones also came and were immediately charred in mid-flight. Just as we neutralized them once again today, we will hit them much harder and much more violently in the future if they don't sign the deal, and FAST!”, he wrote.
Trump also said a deal with Iran “may not happen or it could happen any day,” adding, “I think they want the deal more than I want it.”
Prior to the attacks, there was information regarding the possible approach of a temporary agreement between Washington and Tehran, after the US sent a memorandum through Pakistan, but Iranian officials would have rejected concessions in recent days.
The situation in the region remains tense after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that US forces responded to attacks on the destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta and USS Mason, intercepting missiles and drones and later striking Iranian military targets.
The press in Iran writes that the situation has returned to normal
Meanwhile, Iran's Press TV reported that after several hours of exchange of fire, “the situation on the Iranian islands and in the coastal cities of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to normal”.
The United Arab Emirates announced it had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones, a few hours after the US said it had thwarted attempts to attack its ships.
Iran's military has accused the United States of violating the truce, saying an oil tanker and commercial ships were targeted, as well as civilian areas near coastal towns such as Bandar Khamir, Sirik and the island of Qeshm, home to about 150,000 people. According to Tehran, the American attacks would have been launched “with the cooperation of some countries in the region”.
Iran's military said it retaliated against US ships, causing “significant damage”, claims denied by Washington, which says US warships were not damaged.
At the same time, Trump has harshly criticized Iran, saying it is “not a normal country” and suggesting that current leaders could use nuclear weapons if they had them. He warned that the United States could respond “much more violently” if the attacks continued.
Amidst the tensions, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, declared that he was optimistic about the evolution of the situation: “I strongly believe that this truce will turn into a lasting truce.”
