‘They’ll Be Hit Very Hard’: Trump Warns Iran Over Possible flydubai Attack Link

US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if investigators established a link between Tehran and the attack aboard a flydubai passenger aircraft, while acknowledging that the alleged connection remained under examination.

Speaking to reporters before leaving the White House for Texas on Thursday, Trump suggested that information reaching him pointed towards possible Iranian involvement. He did not provide evidence to support that assessment.

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar and attempted to bring down the aircraft. Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door despite his injuries, allowing passengers and crew to intervene.

A Warning Before a Finding

Asked whether intelligence briefings indicated that the co-pilot had ties to Iran, Trump said: “We're working on it right now. They're being very open with us. Uh, I would say the answer based on what I'm hearing is yes, but we're working on it right now.”

When a reporter asked whether the individual could have been placed aboard the aircraft through Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or radicalised through other means, Trump replied: “It could have been, yeah.”

Neither response established who directed the attack or the alleged attacker’s motive.

Asked specifically whether Washington would take military action if Iran was implicated, Trump said: “Oh, they'll be hit very hard. Don't worry. You just ask them. They know what happened. They'll be hit very hard.”

Hormuz and Nuclear Deal Pressure

Trump broadened his remarks to Iran’s economy, military capabilities and the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that US forces controlled the waterway and that Iran’s military and finances had been severely weakened.

He also claimed that oil shipments through the strait had reached unprecedented levels.

“We took out more oil in the last two days than at any time in the history of the Strait, and that includes before the war,” he said.

Trump did not provide supporting figures during the remarks. His claims about Iran’s economic condition, military readiness and oil movements were not independently substantiated in the report.

He renewed pressure on Tehran to accept an agreement, saying: “They'll either sign a very fair deal or they won't exist any longer.”

Trump also reiterated his position that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons.

Cockpit Attack Remains Under Investigation

The flydubai incident is being investigated by multiple countries. As of Thursday, no verified evidence of Iranian involvement had been made public, according to the ANI report.

Trump’s remarks therefore amounted to a conditional threat, rather than an announcement that Washington had formally attributed responsibility to Tehran.

Asked whether the conflict with Iran could affect the forthcoming US midterm elections, Trump acknowledged that it was possible, while arguing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons should help his administration politically.

With inputs from ANI