President Donald Trump has described the fragile ceasefire with Iran as a situation where both sides are “shooting in a more moderate manner”, dismissing concerns about recent exchanges of fire. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump suggested that the definition of a ceasefire is different in the Middle East.
When asked whether the ceasefire was still in place after Iran fired missiles at targets in Kuwait, Trump said there was “a reason” for the attacks. He claimed the US had “nipped it in the bud very quickly” and that Iran was “slightly provoked” by US actions. “It's a different part of the world, you know. I'd say in that part a ceasefire is when you're shooting in a more moderate manner,” he said.
The president added that “anything can happen” with Tehran, describing the region as “very volatile”. He suggested the US military was eager to “wipe everybody out” but that he preferred a written agreement. “Most of my people, I think, would like to do that. Some people wouldn't, but most of them would,” he said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended the attack on Kuwait and Bahrain as “self-defense strikes”, claiming US forces were using bases there to attack civilian shipping and violate the ceasefire. “What sanctions and war failed to achieve won’t be won with more war,” he wrote on X.
The attack on Kuwait’s main airport killed one person and injured 63 others. Kuwait’s defence ministry said it had shot down 13 missiles and 17 drones. Separately, US Central Command said it had attacked an Iranian island near the Strait of Hormuz, including a ground control tower on Qeshm Island used for the attacks. The Pentagon called the Iranian strike “deliberate, calculated, and unjustified”.
