President Donald Trump has defended his decision to resume military operations against Iran, accusing Tehran of backing away from a negotiated agreement before launching attacks that prompted a renewed U.S. response.
According to a report by Fox News from 10:13, Trump speaking to reporters on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, said his administration had given Iran an opportunity to reach a diplomatic settlement but claimed the Iranian government ultimately rejected the deal and initiated hostilities.
“I gave them a chance, I wanted to give them a chance at making a deal. You know, we had a deal two days ago; I was done, and then all of a sudden they couldn’t do it. They didn’t like something about the deal—they couldn’t do it, and they shot first, and that was a big mistake, that they shot first, because we have been knocking the hell out of them,” Trump said.
The president maintained that the United States had acted in good faith by pursuing diplomacy before returning to military action. According to him, Iran’s decision to abandon the agreement and launch attacks left Washington with little choice but to respond forcefully.
Trump’s remarks came as U.S. forces continued strikes on Iranian targets and prepared to reimpose a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.
Earlier, Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson reported that U.S. jets had launched another round of strikes against Iran on Trump’s orders, marking the sixth such operation within a week. He also reported that additional naval and air assets had been deployed as the United States intensified efforts to counter Iranian military capabilities and secure commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed military campaign follows days of escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, with both sides accusing each other of undermining regional stability. Trump’s latest comments underscore his administration’s position that Iran’s actions, rather than U.S. policy, triggered the latest round of hostilities….See More