Trump threatens to punish Iran after Houthi Red Sea attacks

The Yemen-based terrorist group attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea on Wednesday night, the same day President Donald Trump approved a civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump released a Thursday morning statement warning that any future strikes from the Iran-backed Houthis would be met with direct punishment of Iran. The Houthis had acted responsibly throughout the conflict with Iran until now, he wrote.

The president previously said he was undaunted by the potential for Houthi attacks while addressing the media with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House earlier in the week. The U.S. military had taken care of the Houthis before, and the terror group hadn’t been a problem since, he said on Tuesday. Trump predicted that the U.S. military would have to take care of business again,  as he characterized it, but time would tell, he added.

What else has the administration said? In response to a previous statement by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi that Iran’s policy toward the United States would be “an eye for an eye,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday told reporters Trump’s policy would be “a head for an eye.”

How have other countries reacted to the strikes? Vice Chair of the EU Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Hana Jalloul Muro released a Thursday morning statement condemning the Houthis’ renewed strikes. Attacks on the Red Sea violated international law and risked dangerous escalation with devastating consequences, she wrote.

Have either Iran or the Houthis commented on the strikes? Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree released a Wednesday night video message claiming the strikes were justified after Saudi tankers violated a Red Sea blockade. Houthis used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones to inflict major damage on the tankers, and forced nearly 10 other ships to turn back, he said. Saree characterized Saudi Arabia as an enemy nation, and vowed tit-for-tat retaliation against any aggression on land or sea.

The renewed strikes by Iran’s proxy group came amid heightened aggression in America’s war on Iran. Trump vowed that future retaliatory strikes on the regime would target Iran’s critical infrastructure, according to a Wednesday statement.

Although peace talks have not formally restarted, Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed on Monday that behind-the-scenes diplomacy work was underway. Mediators began sending Iran drafts of peace proposals ahead of indirect negotiations, he said. Rubio had also previously voiced interest on Tuesday in restarting constructive negotiations with Iran. America is open to positive discussions, so long as Iran keeps its commitments, which it didn’t last time, he said.