Washington (Web Desk): US President Donald Trump has said the United States launched heavy strikes against Iran after Tehran allegedly carried out a drone attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between the two countries.
Speaking in a telephone interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump said the United States responded forcefully to Iran's latest actions, declaring, "We hit them very hard last night." The interview primarily focused on the death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, but Trump also addressed the recent confrontation with Iran.
According to the US president, Washington and Tehran had been on the verge of reaching a significant agreement just hours before the alleged attack. Trump claimed that negotiations on Saturday had progressed positively and that Iran had agreed to major concessions.
"We were very close to a deal. They were giving up everything," Trump said, adding that the agreement would have addressed key US concerns regarding Iran's policies.
However, Trump alleged that the situation changed dramatically shortly after the negotiations concluded. He claimed that approximately two hours after leaving the negotiating table, Iran launched a drone attack on a ship transiting the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
"They were giving up everything, and then all of a sudden, two hours after that, they hit a ship with a drone. These people, there is something wrong with them," Trump said while criticizing Iran's leadership.
The president said the alleged attack prompted an immediate US military response, with American forces carrying out strikes against Iranian targets later that night. He did not provide further details about the locations targeted or the extent of the operation.
The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important maritime trade routes, remains a vital corridor for global oil shipments. Any escalation in the waterway has the potential to disrupt international energy markets and heighten regional security concerns.
Trump's remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides accusing each other of actions that threaten stability in the Gulf region.