...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump said Monday he would support further Israeli strikes on Iran if Tehran moves to rebuild its long-range missile capabilities or advances its nuclear weapons program.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Trump responded to a question about the possibility of future attacks by saying such action would be warranted if Iran continued missile development or rapidly pursued nuclear weapons.
Read More on News
Trump said Monday, "If they were to continue with the missiles, yes, the nuclear, fast. One would be yes, absolutely, the other, we'll do it immediately."
Why It Matters
The comments came after Trump has insisted that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “completely and fully obliterated” by U.S. strikes on key nuclear enrichment sites in June. Israeli officials, however, have expresed concern that Tehran may be rebuilding its arsenal of long-range missiles capable of striking Israel.
What To Know
Iran has said it is no longer enriching uranium at any site in the country, a claim aimed at signaling openness to possible negotiations with Western powers over its nuclear program. Netanyahu was expected to discuss with Trump the potential need for further military action against Iran, just months after Israel launched a 12-day war with Tehran in June. An Iranian official said more than 1,000 people were killed in Iran and several thousands more injured. Twenty eight people were killed in attacks on Israel.
...
Trump again criticized Iran for failing to reach an agreement to fully dismantle its nuclear program before the U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year. “They wish they made that deal,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran has vowed to deliver a "far harsher, more crushing and more damaging" response to any hostile action, following remarks by the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, declaring Iran to be effectively at war with the United States.
In a statement issued Monday, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces warned it would not tolerate threats to the nation’s security or its people, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency.
Iranian commanders said the nation's armed forces remain on full readiness and cautioned that any future miscalculation by enemies would be met with overwhelming force.
Over the weekend, Pezeshkian said his country was also at war with Europe and Israel, referencing his country's previous, elongated war with Iraq in which he said it was clear what was happening, with missiles being fired. Now, he said, the situation had shifted to one involving sanctions and blockades.
The U.S. and many European countries have imposed extensive sanctions on Iran for years, including on its oil industry and financial sector, often in response to Iran's nuclear program. Earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 29 vessels allegedly engaged in the covert delivery of Iranian oil and petroleum worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Reza Farzin, head of Iran’s Central Bank, resigned on Monday after the nation’s currency, the rial, plunged to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar, triggering widespread protests by traders and shopkeepers in several major cities, according to multiple media outlets.
Images show roads in Iran's capital city, Tehran, filled with protesters on Monday, disrupting traffic and clogging roadways.
What People Are Saying
Trump told reporters as he welcomed Netanyahu to his Florida estate, “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. 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 continued, “If it’s confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time."
When asked whether Israel or the U.S. could carry out new attacks on Iran, Pezeshkian responded, "If they choose to strike, they will naturally face a more decisive response."
He added, "Despite all the problems we face, we are now—in terms of both equipment and personnel—far stronger than we were during their previous attacks."
What Happens Next
Netanyahu’s visit also comes at a critical moment in the war in Gaza, as Trump seeks to inject new momentum into a U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire that risks stalling before reaching the more complex second phase of the agreement.
Updates: 12/29/25: 3:15 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
Updates: 12/29/25: 5:37 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines