Trump threatens Iran with a "very strong strike" if its involvement in the Fly Dubai incident is proven

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US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Iran with a "very strong strike" if its involvement in the attack on the pilot of a Flydubai plane was confirmed mid-flight, adding that he believed this hypothesis was likely.

In response to a question posed by a journalist about whether the United States would respond if Tehran was proven responsible, Trump said that the Iranians “will take a very strong blow.”

During a chat with reporters at the White House, Trump said he believes Iran is involved, without announcing a decisive position.

He added, "I say the answer is yes, based on what I hear, but we are working on this matter at this very moment."

In an interview with Time magazine published Thursday, Trump spoke of a “possible” intensification of attacks against Iran after the midterm elections scheduled for early November.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon will send an aircraft carrier and other ships to the region, as part of reinforcements numbering between nine thousand and ten thousand military personnel expected to arrive by the end of November.

Currently, the United States deploys two aircraft carriers in the Middle East, and it is not clear whether the number will increase to three, or will remain as it is by replacing one of the two ships.