US President Donald Trump said that "It's possible" there was a link between the Omani flydubai pilot and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps when talking to reporters on the White House's South Lawn on Thursday.
"I'd say that, from what I hear, the answer is yes, but we are still looking into it," Trump said when asked if he had been briefed on a possible link.
"So, is it possible this guy was planted there by the IRGC, or became radicalized some other way, and then tried to crash the plane?" a reporter asked.
"It's possible, yes," Trump replied.
However, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the working assumption remains unchanged despite Trump's comments.
Israeli source to 'Post': Co-pilot acted as 'lone wolf'
"The co-pilot acted as a 'lone wolf' and not on behalf of any other party. However, the investigation is still ongoing," the official said.
Trump also commented that "When Iran goes, its proxies [like Hezbollah] will go too."
"I have to make a decision. Will there be a deal here, or will they simply cease to exits," Trump said.