President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 10 June threatened further US military strikes against Iran, warning Tehran would “have to pay the price” following what he described as the downing of a US military helicopter by Iranian forces. Speaking at the White House after signing the Secure America Act, Trump confirmed retaliatory strikes had already been launched and signalled more were coming.

Trump’s Warning and Military Posture

“Well, we’re going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard,” Trump said when asked about an earlier social media post in which he had warned Iran of consequences. Asked whether this meant a resumption of bombing operations, Trump replied: “Yeah, well, we are — based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do that.”

Trump said two US personnel survived the incident and praised what he described as a dramatic rescue. “The two men, fortunately, are OK. But an amazing rescue,” he said. He added that Iran had initially denied responsibility before later acknowledging it: “At first, they said they didn’t do it, then they admitted they did it.”

Nuclear Deal Talks and Frustration with Tehran

Trump reiterated that Iran must never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon, describing ongoing negotiations as stalled. “I’ve been working with Iran for a number of months, and they should sign the deal; it’s a good deal,” he said. “It doesn’t give them the right to have a nuclear weapon; in fact, it totally prohibits them from ever having a nuclear weapon.”

Expressing frustration over the pace of diplomacy, Trump said: “We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers.” He also sharply criticised the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) negotiated under the Obama administration, calling it “one of the worst — one of the dumbest documents I’ve ever seen.”

Pakistan’s Role and the India Connection

In remarks likely to draw attention across South Asia, Trump referenced India and Pakistan while discussing diplomatic efforts to bring Iran to the table. “I gave them a break at the request of Pakistan; the field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan are great,” he said. He added that Pakistani leaders were continuing to engage with Tehran: “They’re close to Iran, and they worked — and they still are working on trying them to do what’s right.”

The mention of India in this context is notable. Developments in the Gulf are closely watched in New Delhi because of the region’s centrality to India’s energy supplies, trade routes, and the large Indian diaspora living and working across West Asia.

Threat of Strikes on Infrastructure

Trump left open the possibility of targeting Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. Asked directly about such strikes, he replied: “I’m not going to say that to you, but I can do that.” He closed with a stark declaration: “Iran very simply cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won’t.”

Any further escalation risks rippling through global energy markets and could affect regional stability at a time when diplomatic channels between Washington and Tehran remain fragile.