New Delhi, Oct. 2 -- US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be hit "very hard" if investigators establish a link between Tehran and the co-pilot accused of stabbing the captain and attempting to crash an Israel-bound flight carrying 182 people.

Trump made the remarks on Thursday (October 1) as investigators from several countries worked to determine the motive behind the incident involving a FlyDubai Boeing 737 Max 8 that was forced to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Asked at the White House whether he had been briefed about possible links between the co-pilot and Tehran, Trump said investigators were still working on the issue.

"I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it...