Staff ReporterUnited States President Donald Trump declared Thursday that “Iran made a very big mistake” in shooting down a U.S. drone but suggested it was an accident rather than a strategic error. Asked about a U.S. response, he said repeatedly, “You’ll find out.”
“I find it hard to believe it was intentional,” Donald Trump said during a White House meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“I think they made a mistake, and I’m not just talking the country made a mistake. I think that someone under the command of that country made a big mistake,” Trump said.
U.S. stocks briefly dipped to session lows after Trump said “you’ll soon find out” when asked if the U.S. would strike Iran. They resumed their climb with his subsequent comments about Iran’s intentions.
U.S. officials said earlier in the day that an Iranian missile had shot down the drone over the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route through which much of the world’s oil flows. Iran claimed that the drone was above its territory.
Talking with reporters, Trump repeated the claim that the drone was flying above international waters. But the president suggested that the incident may have been unintended and done by someone who was “loose and stupid.” He declined to rule out talks with Tehran, saying that he would see what happens.
Iranian state media first reported on the downing of the American military drone. The Iranian outlet Sepah News claimed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards shot down a U.S. “spy drone” over the southern province of Hormozgan.
Major Gen. Hossein Salami, who was the recently appointed to lead the Revolutionary Guard, told Iranian state TV that “Iran is not seeking war with any country, but we are fully prepared to defend Iran.”
The U.S. and Iran have sparred in recent weeks over two attacks on oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region. Trump has accused Iran of being behind the attacks, which Iran has denied.
