Iran called President Trump begging for a deal after the United States launched a second consecutive night of devastating strikes against Iranian military targets — but Trump isn’t sure the regime deserves one.
Speaking aboard Air Force One returning from the NATO summit in Ankara Wednesday night, Trump revealed Tehran reached out after the latest round of U.S. strikes — the first American attacks on Iranian infrastructure since the April 8 ceasefire.
The strikes followed Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“THEY CALLED A LITTLE WHILE AGO. THEY WANT TO MAKE A DEAL SO BADLY. I JUST DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE WORTHY OF MAKING A DEAL. I DON’T KNOW IF THEY’RE GOING TO HONOR THE DEAL. THAT’S THE PROBLEM.”
Asked why Iran would attack commercial ships if it wanted an agreement, Trump said the regime was “sort of crazy” and “a little bit out of control” — even as he confirmed Tehran was still seeking talks.
“They want to make a deal — badly,” he said.
Trump also delivered a stark warning: any future Iranian aggression will draw an even more crushing response.
“We just hit them very hard,” Trump said. “We hit them 20 to 1. Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them twenty[-fold].”
U.S. Central Command announced American forces had completed the second round of strikes against Iran, saying the operation was designed to further degrade Tehran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said U.S. forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline.
The command said the operation followed the previous night’s strikes, during which U.S. forces hit approximately 80 Iranian military targets — including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats — after Iran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in violation of the ceasefire.
“U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief,” CENTCOM said.
A U.S. official told Axios that Wednesday’s operation included strikes on two railway bridges in northern Iran — marking the first reported U.S. attacks on Iranian infrastructure since the April 8 ceasefire. Other targets included coastal radar systems, anti-ship missile positions, air defenses, and other military assets tied to Iran’s operations near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump framed the strikes as direct retaliation for Iran’s attacks on commercial shipping.
“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “If it happens again, it will get much worse!”
Vice President JD Vance described the administration’s posture in similar terms, saying the understanding with Tehran was that Washington would lift its blockade if Iran stopped attacking ships — but would respond with even greater force if the attacks resumed.
“IF YOU SHOOT AT SHIPS, WE ARE GOING TO PUNCH BACK, AND WE’RE GOING TO PUNCH BACK HARDER THAN EVER BEFORE.”
Iranian officials threatened retaliation, with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning, “If you strike, you’ll get hit.”
“America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free,” Ghalibaf wrote on X, insisting the Strait of Hormuz would open only under “Iranian arrangements,” not “American threats.”
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned the American strikes “will not go unanswered,” while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would “not answer vulgarity with vulgarity, but with action.”
Kuwait said its air defenses were intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks while air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain. Iranian forces had targeted U.S. military sites in both Gulf states following the previous night’s American strikes.
The latest escalation followed Iran’s attacks on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington described as a violation of the memorandum of understanding intended to halt hostilities, restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, and create space for negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Trump declared earlier Wednesday that he considered the ceasefire “over,” but said aboard Air Force One that Iran had nevertheless reached out seeking renewed negotiations — even as he questioned whether the regime could be trusted to honor any future agreement.
President Trump says Iran "called a little while ago."
"They want to make a deal so badly. I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to honor the deal. That's the problem."pic.twitter.com/BIZQvc6WTk
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) July 9, 2026
.@POTUS: "We just hit them very hard, and I say we hit them 20-to-1 — every time they hit us, we're going to hit them 20… When they hit, we hit back much harder." https://t.co/XIthjknwBH pic.twitter.com/8G2sHxZBNA
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 9, 2026
