U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday evening that he does not know whether Washington and Iran are returning to a full-fledged war, but told reporters that Iran "badly" wants to make a deal to cease escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

Trump flew back to Washington, D.C., via the U.K. on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One as he departed the U.K.'s Mildenhall Air Force Base, the president said American forces had "just hit [Iran] very hard."