ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump has said Washington could launch a fresh military attack on Iran as early as Sunday, while also keeping the door open to a negotiated settlement with Tehran.
Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, Trump said the United States was weighing action and that it could come soon. “We’re thinking about doing it, and maybe tomorrow,” he said, declining to give a firmer timetable.
Trump said he might have to “finish it off” militarily, or Iran could agree to a deal. He added that he was unsure whether Tehran would honour any agreement, but insisted Washington would prevail “either way”. He said his objective was to prevent Iran from eventually developing a nuclear weapon.
The remarks followed his comments at a rally in Florida on Friday, where he suggested the United States might carry out “another little Epic Fury”, using the name of its military campaign against Iran, which began on February 28.
The warning came as Saudi defences intercepted fresh projectiles overnight. The Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday it had downed a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh, and separately destroyed a drone in the Riyadh region. Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki announced the drone interception, without specifying its origin or target.
The coalition also said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles launched towards Taif and Yanbu. Saudi Civil Defence said debris from intercepted missiles fell at several locations in the kingdom’s western regions, including sites in Makkah, Jeddah, Taif and Rabigh governorate, after missiles were reportedly launched towards Makkah and Madinah.
The Houthis denied targeting Makkah and Madinah, saying their operations were aimed at Saudi oil facilities and military bases. The group has also renewed warnings to airlines, airport workers and travellers to avoid Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, calling it a military target and vowing further attacks. There was no immediate Saudi confirmation of the latest threat, and the coalition gave no details of damage or casualties from Sunday’s interceptions.
Related: Saudi Air Defences Intercept Houthi Missile Fired at Riyadh
