President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Monday, stating the United States is prepared to use military force if the nation attempts to rebuild its nuclear program.
During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club, Trump addressed reports that Iran may be restarting its nuclear efforts.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down,” Trump told reporters. “We’ll knock the hell out of them.”
The warning follows a 12-day military conflict in June, where U.S. and Israeli forces targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites.
While Trump claimed those strikes “obliterated” Iran’s capabilities, current reports suggest Tehran may be trying to recover.
Trump emphasized that he prefers a diplomatic solution but noted that Iran missed its chance for a better deal in the past.
“If they want to make a deal, that’s much smarter,” he said.
The rhetoric from both sides has reached a boiling point:
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Iran’s Stance: President Masoud Pezeshkian recently described the situation as a “full-scale war” against the U.S., Israel, and Europe, citing crippling sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
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Israel’s Response: Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to highlight the “danger Iran poses” to the region. He recently warned that any action against Israel would face a “very severe response.”
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Internal Strife: Iran is currently facing an economic crisis. The national currency has plummeted, leading to shop closures and protests in Tehran.
Trump also signaled strong support for potential Israeli military action.
When asked if he would back an Israeli strike on Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, he replied, “Yes, absolutely… we’ll do it immediately.”
While Trump declined to discuss “regime change,” he noted that the Iranian government is struggling with “tremendous inflation” and a “bust” economy, suggesting the leadership is under significant pressure from its own citizens.
