Trump: “I personally believe” Iran is behind the failed Flydubai attack

President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that he personally believes Iran is behind the failed terrorist attack on the airline Flydubai, even though investigators have announced no conclusion that the suspect is linked to Iran or any other foreign entity, as USA Today reports. “I do. I personally do,” Trump replied when asked by a journalist on 5 October whether he believes Iran was responsible for the failed attack.

The statement came only hours after Vice President JD Vance said U.S. intelligence officials had not verified Iran’s involvement. “It’s something I’ll leave to the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, and some of the intelligence people,” Vance said. “I wouldn’t want to get ahead of any announcement, but we’re certainly looking at it. But I wouldn’t say I’ve seen anything definitive yet.”

The United Arab Emirates is leading an international investigation into the 30 September attack, when the first officer stabbed pilot Smit Machchhar with a knife in an apparent attempt to bring down the plane with 170 passengers on board; the aircraft was flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Reuters’ reporting, based on sources briefed on the Emirati investigation, the suspect had planned to crash the hijacked plane into Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv before being subdued by the co-pilot, the crew and the passengers; Israeli officials have said the suspect is from Oman, but have not made his identity public. Numerous U.S. officials briefed on the investigation told NBC News that early indications show the suspect acted alone, not as part of a larger organisation or in coordination with Iran or another foreign actor.

Trump presented no information to support his claim of Iranian involvement. On 1 October the U.S. president had warned that Iran would be hit “very hard” if it is determined to be behind the Flydubai attack. The United States remains at war with Iran more than seven months after Trump ordered the first round of strikes in an attempt to eliminate the country’s nuclear programme.