By Ginika Igboke
President Donald Trump said Monday that he may support additional military strikes against Iran if Tehran continues advancing its nuclear or long-range missile programs.
Speaking during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump was asked whether he would back further action against Iran. Over the summer, Israel and the United States carried out strikes on three Iranian sites aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“If they were to continue with the missiles, yes, the nuclear, fast—one would be yes, absolutely, the other, we’ll do it immediately,” Trump said.
The two leaders met in Florida to discuss Gaza, Iran, and other regional issues. A truce between Israel and Hamas took effect in October, ending a two-year conflict that began after a Hamas-led terrorist attack from Gaza against Israel.
Trump said he has received reports suggesting Iran may be rebuilding its capabilities.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago estate. “And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”
He also criticized Iran for refusing to reach an agreement that would have fully dismantled its nuclear program prior to the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes.
“They wish they made that deal,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks followed comments from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who said over the weekend that Iran is now engaged in what he described as a “full-fledged war” with the United States, Israel, and some European countries. In an interview published on a website linked to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Pezeshkian said the current confrontation is more complex and difficult than Iran’s war with Iraq in the 1980s.
Iran has long denied U.S. and Israeli claims that its nuclear program is aimed at developing weapons. Washington and Jerusalem, however, have repeatedly said Iran is pursuing nuclear arms capabilities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has also raised concerns, citing Iran’s lack of transparency and its restrictions on international inspections of nuclear facilities.
During the meeting, Netanyahu emphasized the strength of his relationship with Trump.
“I’ll say it again and again and again—we’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House,” Netanyahu said. “It’s not even close.”
Trump also renewed his call for Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who is currently facing a corruption trial.
“He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero,” Trump said. “How do you not give a pardon?”
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