Donald Trump on Sunday said an apparent assassination attempt during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner would not alter his stance on the conflict with Iran, even as investigators probe the motive behind the attack.
Speaking a day after the incident, Trump said there was no immediate evidence linking the suspect to Tehran and described the attacker as a possible “lone wolf.”
“It’s not going to deter me from winning the war in Iran,” Trump said, adding that authorities were continuing their investigation.
The shooting occurred during the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, where Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other senior officials were escorted out after gunfire was reported near a security checkpoint. The suspect was later taken into custody, and no injuries among top officials were reported.
Trump thanked law enforcement agencies for their swift response, saying all senior officials were safe.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not enter negotiations under pressure, threats or blockades, in remarks made to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to Iranian state-linked media.
Pezeshkian said the United States must first remove what he described as operational restrictions, including limitations affecting Iranian ports, before any diplomatic engagement could begin.
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command said it had intercepted a commercial vessel, identified as Sevan, in the Arabian Sea for allegedly attempting to breach sanctions linked to Iranian oil exports. A US Navy helicopter from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney escorted the vessel after interception.
At the United Nations, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon voiced support for diplomacy with Lebanon but warned that Israel would not tolerate continued attacks by Hezbollah militants backed by Tehran.
Separately, Iran executed a man identified as Amer Ramesh for alleged links to the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, according to the Tasnim news agency. Authorities said he had been convicted over bombings and ambushes targeting security forces.
Investigations into the Washington shooting remain ongoing.
