WASHINGTON, July 13 - President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the United States was attacking Iran's capabilities connected to the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed military action between the two countries.
The U.S. military said on Monday it was launching fresh strikes against Iran. Speaking from the Oval Office, the president said he had not concluded that a negotiated settlement with Tehran could not be reached, leaving open the possibility of diplomatic resolution even as military operations continue.
Mr. Trump also raised concerns about the possible presence of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles in the Western Hemisphere. "If they do have that, and they might very well have that, we'll take care of it," he said. "We're not going to have a problem. We're not going to allow that to happen so it could be that they are storing some. We're looking into it now."
Context and developments
The president's remarks came as U.S. forces reported renewed strikes against Iranian targets. The comments linked those military actions to capabilities related to the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime chokepoint referenced by the administration in explaining the focus of U.S. operations. At the same time, the president left open the option that diplomacy could still play a role in resolving tensions with Tehran.
Statements from the White House
In the Oval Office exchange with reporters, Mr. Trump balanced the announcement of military action with a note that a negotiated outcome had not been dismissed. He further flagged an investigation into reported Iranian drones possibly located in Cuba, saying U.S. authorities are looking into that matter.
Implications noted by officials
The information released on Monday centered on two principal claims: that U.S. forces were conducting new strikes against Iran, and that the strikes targeted Iranian capabilities tied to the Strait of Hormuz. Officials also emphasized ongoing inquiries into the potential storage or deployment of Iranian drones outside the Middle East, including the possibility of assets in Cuba, as described by the president.
Summary
On July 13, President Trump said the United States was targeting Iran's capabilities linked to the Strait of Hormuz while U.S. military forces were reported to be launching fresh strikes. He indicated that a negotiated settlement with Tehran had not been ruled out and mentioned an inquiry into whether Iran had drones in Cuba.