US President, Donald Trump has said he believes Iran was responsible for the 30 September incident aboard a Flydubai passenger jet, a claim that runs against the position of his own vice president, JD Vance, who says there is so far no evidence linking Tehran to the attack.

Trump made the remarks to reporters on Monday, saying he personally believes Iran was behind it, although he did not provide any evidence. Vance had earlier said he had seen nothing conclusive tying Iran to the incident. Last Thursday, Trump warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it were found to have been involved.

Flydubai flight FZ1073 was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board when, according to Israeli authorities, the copilot, an Omani national, attacked the captain and tried to take control of the aircraft. Flight data reviewed by Reuters showed the plane dropping more than 16,000 feet. Passengers and crew intervened, the injured captain was praised for opening the cockpit door, and the aircraft made an emergency landing at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

A UAE official described the episode as a terrorist act. Flydubai has since suspended flights to and from Israel and urged the public not to jump to conclusions.

Investigators in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel are still examining the suspect’s background and motive. Israeli investigators have indicated he probably acted alone, while Israel’s prime minister has pointed to Islamist radical indoctrination, also without public evidence. No official finding has publicly tied Iran to the incident.

In the same remarks, Trump said he is always open to direct talks with Iran, even as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high.

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