The president made the remarks during a meeting with reporters at the White House. He did not specify which attacks he was referring to or which nations were targeted.
“Iran has been attacking various Arab countries, and frankly, it surprised us,” Trump said. “They've been more aggressive than I think people realize.”
The statement comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. The United States has long maintained a policy of countering Iranian influence in the region, particularly its support for proxy groups and its military activities.
Iran and several Arab nations have a history of conflict. In recent years, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Those attacks have targeted civilian infrastructure, including airports and oil facilities.
The US military has previously assisted Saudi Arabia in intercepting missiles fired from Yemen. The Biden administration, and now the Trump administration, have continued to provide support to regional partners facing threats from Iranian-aligned forces.
Trump did not elaborate on whether the US had received intelligence warnings about the attacks or why the level of aggression was surprising to his team. He also did not say if the United States would change its military posture in the region in response.
The Pentagon has not issued a statement on the president’s comments. However, US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has regularly reported on Iranian naval activities and the transfer of weapons to proxy groups.
Iran’s government has denied state involvement in attacks carried out by groups it supports. Tehran often describes its regional activities as defensive and aimed at countering US and Israeli influence.
The president’s remarks follow a pattern of increased friction between Washington and Tehran. In recent months, the US has imposed new sanctions on Iranian entities accused of destabilizing the region.
Relations between Iran and some Arab nations have shifted in recent years. Several countries, including the UAE and Bahrain, have normalized ties with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. That realignment has deepened the divide between Iran and US-aligned Gulf states.
Trump did not announce any new actions against Iran during his comments. He said the US was monitoring the situation and would respond if American interests or allies were threatened.
“We're watching it very closely,” he said. “We have great relationships in that region, and we're not going to let our friends get hurt.”
The president’s admission of surprise may raise questions about the administration's intelligence-gathering capabilities in the Middle East. Critics have previously argued that the US has been too focused on other global hotspots, allowing Iran to expand its influence.
Supporters of the administration say the US remains fully capable of defending its partners and deterring Iranian aggression. They point to recent military exercises and naval deployments in the Persian Gulf as signs of continued commitment.
The situation in the region remains fluid. Analysts say Iran is likely to continue its efforts to project power through allied groups, even as diplomatic efforts to contain its nuclear program remain stalled.