Trump Says Chance of Another Attack on Iran Is “Very Small” ... Another Explosion Heard in Strait of Hormuz

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently carried out successive airstrikes in the area around the Strait of Hormuz, said on the 8th (local time) that the chance of a full-scale military attack targeting Iran was “very small.” However, loud blasts were heard repeatedly in the Strait of Hormuz that day as well.
Asked about the possibility of further attacks on Iran in a phone interview with CNN on the 8th, Trump said, “It depends on whether they [Iran] sign a very strong agreement.” He went on to claim that “the chance an attack will be necessary is very small.”
CNN reported that Trump repeated the phrase “very small chance” five times in the interview that day. Trump also stressed that the U.S. military was ready to resume its attacks, saying, “We have three aircraft carriers. Another one just arrived.” He claimed, “We are targeting 38 bridges that we can literally destroy within an hour.”
Trump said Iran’s air defense system had collapsed, claiming, “The only thing they can do is produce a few missiles and a few unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), at around 10% capacity. Their drones are at around 15%, because most of their factories have been destroyed.”
Regarding attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, Trump said, “It would take at least 10 years to rebuild, so I don’t want to do that.” He added that Iran “desperately wants” negotiations and said, “Maybe there won’t be any need for that [resuming military attacks].”
The U.S., which had refrained from attacking mainland Iran since early September, struck Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on the 3rd, the day before the midterm election. The airstrikes were repeated on the 6th. Trump said the strikes were intended to eliminate the Iranian military’s air defense network. In a report on the 8th, Iran’s state-run IRNA said several explosions had been heard on Qeshm Island and claimed they were believed to have been caused by an attack.
Trump did not specify what kind of agreement he wanted in the interview on the 8th. The U.S. is believed to want Iran’s denuclearization and guarantees of free passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite recent clashes, the two countries are reportedly continuing talks to end the war through Qatar. Iran’s position is that the U.S. must first accept its seven demands, including lifting sanctions, granting access to frozen assets, and paying war reparations.
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