US President Donald Trump warned that the US is prepared to strike Iran again at any time it wants after destroying newly rebuilt radar equipment along the Strait of Hormuz, during a White House press conference on Wednesday.
“They were trying to rebuild their radar systems and a missile system,” he told reporters.
“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we’re prepared to do another one anytime we want,” Trump continued, adding that the US “blew up much more than their radars” in Monday night’s strikes.
When asked how long the renewed campaign of strikes will go on for, Trump said that he does not think it will continue for “too long.”
The latest back-and-forth began on Sunday when US Central Command (CENTCOM) struck and destroyed two rocket launchers on Iran’s Larak Island after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were seen preparing to fire towards the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump claimed that Iran had been trying to build a rocket that could drop sea mines into the waterway.
“We took out all of the new equipment that they tried to build along the Strait of Hormuz. Some defensive, some offensive,” he said of the strikes.
“We saw that they were building it,” he said of Tehran’s efforts to rearm. “We see everything they’re doing. They can't go to the bathroom without us seeing it.”
Monday’s strikes were ordered after Iran retaliated for the destruction of the launchers by attempting to strike American troops stationed in Jordan.
Trump warned that Iran would be “totally wiped out as a country” if Tehran responded with further attacks, telling Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst that “If they do respond, they’ll be hit much harder.”
In regard to seeking peace-making opportunities with Tehran, Trump told Yingst that he already “gave them a lot of chances” and believes “an agreement with them isn't worth the paper it's written on.”
