US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 9 July cast doubt on whether Iran would honour any negotiated agreement, even as he acknowledged Tehran had reached out seeking talks following fresh American retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets. Speaking aboard Air Force One while returning to Washington from the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump said the United States would continue striking back forcefully while keeping its core objective fixed: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Key Developments

Trump confirmed that US forces had carried out strikes overnight and again during the day, framing them as retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial shipping vessels. “They just — we just hit it very hard, and I say we hit them 20 to 1; every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20,” Trump told reporters. He added that Iran had struck three commercial boats, not two as initially reported, prompting the American response.

Asked whether the exchanges signalled a return to full-scale military conflict, Trump said, “I don’t know, I don’t know,” while maintaining that Washington retained “many ways” to prevail. He claimed the US had “already won militarily” and that Iran had “very little left.”

Iran Seeks a Deal — But Trump Is Sceptical

Trump said Iranian officials had contacted Washington expressing a desire to negotiate. However, he stopped short of expressing confidence in any such process. “They want to make a deal so badly — I just don’t know if they’re worthy of making a deal,” he said. “I don’t know that they’re going to honour the deal; that’s the problem.”

When pressed on why Iran would continue attacking commercial vessels while simultaneously seeking a deal, Trump said, “Because it’s not crazy, to be honest with you — it’s so crazy they’re a little bit out of control, but they want to make a deal badly.” The remarks underscore the contradictory signals emanating from Tehran, which the administration has been navigating through a combination of military, diplomatic, and economic pressure.

Denuclearisation at the Centre of US Demands

Trump was explicit that the central American demand remains the denuclearisation of Iran. “This is all about taking nuclear weapons — not allowing Iran to have nuclear weapons. And everybody should like that,” he said. The administration has consistently framed its military posture not as open-ended conflict but as coercive pressure to force a change in Iranian behaviour.

This comes amid a broader pattern of escalation: the Trump administration has combined targeted strikes with sweeping economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation in an effort to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table on terms Washington defines. Critics, however, argue that the lack of a clear diplomatic off-ramp risks miscalculation.

Air Force One Security and NATO Summit

Trump also addressed reports that his aircraft was switched at the last minute before departing Turkey, dismissing suggestions it was linked to a specific security threat. He said the change was made so base personnel could view the plane. Asked about credible Iranian threats against Air Force One, Trump said, “All the time — I’m number one on their list.”

Trump described the NATO summit as productive, saying the alliance had demonstrated unity after earlier disagreements over defence spending. He said future US troop decisions in Europe would partly hinge on developments involving Greenland and Iran. He also noted that allies who had previously held back were now eager to assist on Iran, though he said Washington did not require their help.

Syria, Hezbollah, and Ukraine

On the sidelines of the summit, Trump praised Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, saying he had “done a great job” and “unified Syria.” Asked whether al-Sharaa had made commitments regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon, Trump confirmed he had but declined to elaborate. He also described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “great” following their bilateral meeting.

With military exchanges continuing and diplomatic contacts remaining fragile, the trajectory of the US-Iran confrontation remains uncertain — and the next move, whether a ceasefire overture or a further escalation, could come within days.