After suggesting over the weekend that Iran was responsible for a deadly strike on a girls school in the southern part of the country, President Donald Trump on Monday said it may have been that country or another that struck the school.
He claimed multiple nations possess “generic” Tomahawk missiles like the one that appears to have been used in the attack — even though Iran does not.
“I will say that the Tomahawk, which is one of the most powerful weapons around … is sold and used by other countries, you know that. Whether it’s Iran, who also has some Tomahawks — they wish they had more,” Trump said when asked by CNN’s Manu Raju whether the US would accept any responsibility for the strike.
Pressed by another reporter on why he was the only member of the administration pointing blame at Iran, Trump said: “Because I just don’t know enough about it. I think it’s something that I was told is under investigation, but Tomahawks are used by others. As you know, numerous other nations have Tomahawks. They buy them from us, but I will certainly — whatever the report shows, I’m willing to live with that report.”
Asked about the attack on Saturday, Trump said that “based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was standing beside him at the time, would only say the matter was under investigation.
The Tomahawk missile is not a “generic” weapon. While the US, the United Kingdom and Australia possess them, Iran does not.
Iran has blamed the US for the school strike, according to Iranian state media.
The US military was likely responsible, according to CNN and expert analysis of evidence. And footage has emerged that appears to show a US missile targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps naval base adjacent to the school.