Trump hails Iran for giving ‘very nice' warning before missile attack on US base; warns conflict could restart 'soon'

A day after ceasefire was brokered and declared between Iran and Israel by US President Donald Trump, the Republican leader praised Iran on Wednesday for providing “very nice” advance notice before launching a missile attack on a US base in Qatar. However, despite a touch of optimism in his speech on the end of the conflict between the two countries, Trump stated that hostilities could "start again soon."

“They were very nice, they gave us warning,” Trump said during a press conference of the NATO Summit in The Hague. “Out of 14 high-end missiles that were shot at the base in Qatar, all 14, as you know, were shot down by our equipment," reported Reuters.

Trump recounted that Iran even notified the US about the timing of the attack. “They said, ‘We're going to shoot them. Is 1 pm okay?’” he said. “Everybody was emptied off the base so they couldn't get hurt except for the gunners.”


Moreover, describing the intense 12-day conflict, Trump said, “We think it's over. I don't think they're going to be going back at each other.”

However, shortly afterwards, the US President tempered that optimism by cautioning that the situation remains fluid and the fighting could resume. “It could start again, perhaps soon,” he said, according to the news agency.

US-Iran nuclear talks soon

Meanwhile, speaking on Iran re-entering the nuclear race, the Trump said, “Iran has a huge advantage. I don’t see them getting back involved in nuclear.” At the same time, he stressed that the US is not backing down on its pressure campaign. “We’re not giving up,” Trump said.

During the press meet, the businessman-turned-politican informed that the US is set to hold a round of talks with Iranian leadership in the coming week, though he does not believe the current situation calls for signing an official agreement on nuclear arms.

"We're going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement. I don't know. To me, I don't think that's necessary."

Iran and Israel were at loggerheads for nearly two weeks over the former building up it's nuclear arsenal which led to 12 days of intense airstrikes in both nations. However, the conflict took a severe turn when the US army attacked three major Iranian nuclear facilities with its B2 Spirit bombers in support of its ally Israeli PM Netanyahu.

In light of growing global concern and calls for de-escalation, President Trump then brokered a truce between the two countries on Tuesday after Iran launched a scathing attack on US bases in Qatar on Monday night.