President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will respond forcefully after Iran launched attacks targeting American forces in Jordan, marking another escalation in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “We’re going to hit them hard”, adding that there would be a US response. He claimed Iran launched missiles toward American forces in Jordan on Sunday night and said US air defense systems intercepted all but one of the missiles. According to Trump, the remaining missile was assessed as unlikely to strike anything significant.
Trump also indicated that Iranian officials are eager to meet with the United States, although he expressed doubts about whether Tehran could be relied upon to reach and honor a new agreement.
The latest confrontation comes despite US-Iran negotiations that began in June with the stated goal of reaching a deal to end the conflict. Washington and Tehran have nevertheless continued exchanging strikes, while the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the confrontation because of its strategic importance to global energy supplies and international shipping.
