PALM BEACH, Florida — US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Washington could back another major military strike on Iran if Tehran resumes rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs, while also cautioning Hamas of severe repercussions if it refuses to disarm.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, the US leader said reports suggest Iran may be attempting to revive weapons activities following a large-scale US strike in June.
“I’ve been reading that they’re building up weapons and other things,” Trump said, adding that any renewed activity would not be taking place at sites previously destroyed. He stressed that US intelligence is closely tracking Iran’s movements and hinted that Washington would not hesitate to act again if necessary.
Trump, who has recently floated the idea of a renewed nuclear deal with Tehran, said his discussions with Netanyahu also focused on stabilizing the fragile Gaza ceasefire and addressing Israeli concerns about Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran, which fought a brief but intense war with Israel in June, said last week it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month, further raising tensions in the region.
On Gaza, Trump said he wants to move toward a second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, reached in October after two years of fighting.
That next phase envisions the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian enclave.
However, both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the truce, and progress toward the next stage has stalled. Hamas has refused to disarm and has reasserted control in parts of Gaza, while Israeli forces remain positioned in roughly half of the territory.
Trump placed responsibility squarely on Hamas, warning the group of dire consequences if it continues to resist disarmament. “There will be hell to pay,” he said, repeating language he had used previously during the conflict.
Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s position that if Hamas does not lay down its arms through negotiations, military action would resume to enforce disarmament.
Israel has also tied further steps in the ceasefire, including opening the Rafah crossing with Egypt, to the return of the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be in Gaza.
The meeting underscored Trump’s continued alignment with Netanyahu, even as questions persist among some US officials about Israel’s commitment to fully implementing the ceasefire.
Trump has repeatedly taken credit for brokering ceasefires involving Israel and Hamas, Iran, and Lebanon, while signaling a willingness to tolerate renewed hostilities if agreements collapse.
The two leaders also discussed broader regional issues, including Syria and Turkey’s possible role in Gaza.
Trump said he believed Israel could maintain a peaceful border with Syria under its new leadership, though Israel has expressed deep reservations about Damascus’ current rulers.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has not completely stopped. Gaza health officials say Israeli strikes since October have killed more than 400 Palestinians, most of them civilians, while Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.