Iranian state media released a video on Wednesday of what it called the country’s first successful ground-to-ground missile strike on a U.S. position at Erbil airport in northern Iraq.
The footage showed missiles launched and striking the target, according to reports from Mehr News and Fars News.
Iranian officials described the attack as a direct response to remarks made by President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Trump had said Iran gave the United States “a present… a very big present… a very significant prize” linked to oil and gas assets.
Iranian media framed the missile strike as “a gift we sent to Trump.” Fars News, citing an Iranian army statement, said the target was a key U.S. support and command center at Erbil airport.
The statement added that the site housed military equipment and served as a headquarters for separatist groups backed by Israel, which Iran accuses of stirring unrest along its western and northwestern borders.
The strike took place amid ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, hosts U.S. forces and has been hit by Iranian or Iran-backed attacks several times in recent weeks.
Also Read: Iran Demands Huge Compensation for Wartime Losses to End War in U.S. Talks
U.S. air defenses in the area have intercepted many incoming projectiles, but Iranian media presented this launch as a success.
Trump’s Earlier Statement
On Tuesday, Trump told reporters that Iran had provided the U.S. with a major concession in the oil and gas sector. He gave no further details about the nature of the supposed gift or any agreement.
The comment came as the U.S. and Israel continue military operations against Iranian targets, and as oil prices have risen sharply because of disruptions in the region.
Trump’s remarks suggested a possible opening for talks, but Iranian officials have repeatedly denied any concessions or direct negotiations that would amount to a “gift.”
The missile strike and the accompanying video appear to be Tehran’s public rejection of that narrative.
Context of the Conflict
The exchange fits into a broader pattern of strikes and counter-strikes. Iran has launched missiles and drones at sites in Iraq, including areas used by U.S. troops, since the current round of fighting began.
Also Read: Iran Reveals Daring Strike on Its Nuclear Plant After Russia’s Evacuation Warning
Many of those attacks have focused on the Kurdistan region, where U.S. forces maintain a presence after shifting operations from other parts of Iraq.
U.S. officials have not yet issued a detailed statement on the latest reported strike in Erbil. Past Iranian claims of successful hits have often been disputed by American and Iraqi sources, who report that most projectiles are intercepted or cause limited damage.
Iraqi authorities in the Kurdistan region have condemned previous attacks on their territory and warned that such actions risk drawing Iraq deeper into the conflict.
Why It Matters
This latest exchange shows how quickly statements from Washington can draw a military reply from Tehran. Trump’s claim of an Iranian “gift” aimed to signal progress or leverage in a costly war that has already pushed up energy prices worldwide.
Iran’s missile strike and the mocking language used by its state media make clear that Tehran rejects any suggestion of concession.
