US President Donald Trump said that Iran will be “totally wiped out as a country” if Tehran retaliates for renewed US strikes on Tuesday, during a phone call with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst.
“If they do respond, they’ll be hit much harder,” Trump told Yingst. “This is a very big hit today. If it goes a third time, they’re going to be totally wiped out as a country.”
He claimed that the US had destroyed Iranian radar equipment, specifically targeting the systems because Tehran had made efforts to rebuild them.
"They tried to rebuild their radar because they can't see anything," Trump added to Yingst. "We waited until it was almost built and then we hit it.
Tuesday’s strikes marked the second instance of American military action against Iran after a week-long lull in hostilities.
In regard to seeking further peace-making opportunities with Tehran, Trump asserted that he “gave them a lot of chances” and believes “an agreement with them isn't worth the paper it's written on.”
'Biggest attack of them all' awaiting in case of Iranian retaliation
In a Truth Social post regarding the strikes, Trump declared Iran a “failed nation,” asserting that Tehran had triggered the US military action with its attempt to plant sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and an attack targeting US troops in Jordan.
“The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait… and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our military base in Jordan,” Trump said.
Trump also warned that if Iran were to retaliate, the US would strike back again with the “biggest attack of them all” and leave “very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”