President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai copilot accused of stabbing a captain and attempting to crash an Israel-bound flight.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday that Iran may be linked to the FlyDubai copilot accused of stabbing a captain and attempting to crash an Israel-bound flight. However, he said the matter remained under investigation.
The plane plunged after the alleged attack before other people on board helped bring the jet down safely in Saudi Arabia. Investigators are still working to determine a motive.
When asked outside at the White House whether he had been briefed on possible ties between the copilot and Iran, Trump said, “We’re working on it right now.”
I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now," Trump said, without providing details on why he believed Iran could be involved.
Trump also warned of a strong U.S. response if Iran was found responsible when asked whether the U.S. would retaliate.
Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry,” Trump said. "You just ask them. They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard."
The comments come as efforts to end the seven-month war appear to have stalled.
Iranian officials said Wednesday that they had received an official U.S. response to Tehran’s latest proposal to end the conflict. The officials did not disclose the contents of the response or say whether it amounted to a rejection.
In a Time magazine interview published Thursday, Trump said he would not accept proposals from Iran that he “wouldn’t have approved a year ago.” He also left open the possibility of renewed bombing after the Nov. 3 election.
Despite this, mediators have continued working with both countries to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, officials told The Associated Press.
________
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
