PALM BEACH, Florida | Dec 29 (GeokHub) U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Washington could back another major military strike on Iran if Tehran resumes rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programmes, while also urging Hamas to disarm or face what he described as severe consequences.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after talks at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, the U.S. president said intelligence reports suggested Iran may be attempting to revive weapons development following a large U.S. strike carried out in June.
“I’ve been reading that they’re building up weapons and other things,” Trump told reporters. “If they are, they’re not using the sites we obliterated — possibly different sites. We know exactly where they’re going and what they’re doing.”
Trump added that Washington was prepared to act again if necessary, referencing the long-range B-2 bombers used in the earlier operation. “I don’t want to waste fuel on a B-2. It’s a 37-hour trip both ways. But we’ll do what we have to do,” he said.
IRAN, HEZBOLLAH AND REGIONAL SECURITY
Iran, which fought a brief but intense 12-day war with Israel in June, said last week it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month. Netanyahu has said Israel is not seeking confrontation with Tehran but remains alert to signs of renewed military activity.
Trump said discussions with Netanyahu also covered Israeli concerns over Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as broader regional security challenges.
PUSH FOR SECOND PHASE OF GAZA CEASEFIRE
The U.S. president said he wants to move ahead with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, brokered by Washington in October after two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
That phase would involve the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Gaza and steps toward transitional governance — provisions mandated by a Nov. 17 United Nations Security Council resolution.
However, progress has stalled amid mutual accusations of ceasefire violations. Hamas has refused to disarm and has reasserted control in parts of Gaza, while Israeli forces remain deployed in roughly half of the territory.
Trump placed responsibility squarely on Hamas, saying Israel had upheld its commitments.
“There will be hell to pay,” Trump warned when asked what would happen if Hamas continued to refuse to lay down its arms. “This is not the time for games.”
Israel has said it will resume military action if Hamas does not disarm through negotiations.
HOSTAGES AND NEXT STEPS
An Israeli official close to Netanyahu said Israel expects Hamas to return the remains of the last Israeli hostage still held in Gaza before advancing to subsequent phases of the ceasefire. The family of the hostage, Ran Gvili, accompanied Netanyahu on the visit.
Israel has also declined to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt — another condition of Trump’s plan — until the remains are returned.
DIPLOMATIC UNDERTONES
Despite the tensions, Trump struck a warm tone toward Netanyahu, underscoring Washington’s continued support for Israel. Netanyahu, in turn, said he would award Trump the Israel Prize, an honour traditionally reserved for Israeli citizens.
Trump acknowledged disagreements with Netanyahu over the Israeli-occupied West Bank, but declined to detail them.
The two leaders also discussed Turkey’s potential role in Gaza security arrangements and developments in Syria, where Israel remains wary of the new leadership that took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
While fighting in Gaza has eased since October, violence has not stopped entirely. Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials, while Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers during the ceasefire period.
