Trump teases ‘you’ll find out’ on U.S. response to Iranian drone attack

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

Following drone attacks by Iranian forces on a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump told reporters that they will find out if there will be consequences.

Earlier in the day, the president accused the Islamic Republic of violating the ceasefire. A reporter asked Trump if he “considered the ceasefire still in place?”

The president responded by saying he was not happy with Iran after firing on a ship Thursday.

“I don’t like the fact that they took a shot yesterday. Actually, four, we knocked down three at a ship, not an allied ship, but a ship, a very expensive ship and it was fine, but it took a little beating. They shouldn’t be doing that. So, you’ll find out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

The attack comes two weeks after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding, agreeing to enter a 60-day ceasefire.

Earlier Friday, the president accused Iran of attacking a cargo ship with “at least four one-way attack drones as ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz.” Trump added that one of the drones successfully hit the upper deck of a large and “expensive” cargo ship.

“Damage was done, but the ship was able to proceed on its way. We knocked down three other drones. Obviously, this is a foolish violation of our ceasefire agreement,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

In the past, the U.S. executed “self-defensive” strikes on radar and command and control sites often used to launch drones. The president’s remarks Friday afternoon possibly opened the door to a military response.

Shortly before the attack on the Singaporean-flagged ship, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a warning to ships that they must transit through an Iranian-approved channel.

The International Maritime Organization, which had announced the evacuation of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, has since announced a pause on the operations.

The fifth article of the 14-point MOU stated that the “Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercials vessels with no charge” through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier in the week, the president touted ships carrying a “record” number of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

The strait has been a source of contention with Iran after it effectively closed the vital waterway following the U.S. and Israeli coordinated strikes that began Feb. 28.

As part of the MOU, the U.S. agreed to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, which the Trump administration estimated was costing the Islamic Republic between $400 million and $500 million a day in economic losses.

The Trump administration has requested $87.6 billion from Congress to cover the costs of the conflict, including more than $70 billion for military expenses, according to a White House supplemental appropriations request.