ANKARA (REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he did not think a full-fledged conflict with Iran would erupt in the wake of military strikes from both sides.
"I don't think it's going to start again. I think it's going to go very quickly. They hit a couple of ships, and so we hit them much harder," Trump told reporters in Ankara after a NATO summit.
"Anything that happens is going to be over very quickly ... and will only make it safer, including for oil."
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had threatened to attack Iran again after saying the 60-day ceasefire deal with the Islamic Republic was "over".
"To me, I think it's over. I don't want to deal with them. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a waste of time dealing with them," he said.
"We're going to hit them hard tonight," he had warned, prompting jitters in global markets.