WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump said yesterday that Tehran was likely involved in an attack by a pilot on a flydubai flight to Israel and that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was.

The co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain before passengers managed to save the plane from crashing. Israel’s prime minister said the man had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination.”

“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes but we’re working on it right now,”

Trump said when asked by reporters at the White House whether Iran was involved in the incident on the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

On whether the US would retaliate against Iran if it was responsible for the attack, Trump replied: “Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry.

”The US leader’s threat of retaliation came as he took a harsher tone on the stalled Iran war overall.Trump was quoted as saying in a Time magazine interview published yesterday that it was “possible” he may resume bombing Iran after US midterm elections next month.

Republicans fear they could lose control of Congress in the November 3 election, with Trump’s approval ratings at near-record lows over the Iran war and a surge in the cost of living fuelled by high oil prices.