U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could support a further major military strike on Iran should Tehran move to rebuild its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programmes, while also threatening severe consequences against Hamas if the Palestinian militant group fails to disarm.
Reuters cited on Tuesday that Trump made the remarks yesterday while speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
He suggested that Iran may already be attempting to restore weapons capabilities following a massive US strike carried out in June.
“I've been reading that they're building up weapons and other things, and if they are, they're not using the sites we obliterated, but possibly different sites,” Trump told reporters at a press conference.
“We know exactly where they're going, what they're doing, and I hope they're not doing it because we don't want to waste fuel on a B-2,” he added, referring to the bomber used in the earlier strike. “It's a 37-hour trip both ways. I don't want to waste a lot of fuel.”
Trump, who has floated the possibility of a new nuclear deal with Tehran in recent months, said his discussions with Netanyahu focused on advancing the fragile Gaza ceasefire he brokered, as well as addressing Israeli concerns over Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, said last week it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month. Netanyahu said Israel was not seeking a confrontation with Tehran but was aware of the reports and intended to raise the matter with Trump.
Turning to Gaza, Trump said he wanted to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October after two years of fighting. The next phase envisages the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian enclave.
Israel and Hamas have accused each other of serious violations of the ceasefire and remain far apart on the more complex steps required to advance the agreement.
Hamas, which has refused to disarm, has sought to reassert control as Israeli troops remain entrenched in roughly half of Gaza.
Israel has indicated that if Hamas does not disarm peacefully, it will resume military action to force the issue.
Trump echoed that position, placing responsibility squarely on the militant group and warning of dire consequences.
“There will be hell to pay,” Trump said when asked what he would do if Hamas failed to lay down its arms. He has issued similar warnings at various points during the conflict.
Netanyahu said earlier this month that Trump had invited him for the talks as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance in Gaza, despite Israeli reluctance to move ahead.
The deployment of an international security force was mandated by a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on Nov 17.
Although Washington has brokered three ceasefires involving Israel — with Hamas, Iran and Lebanon — Netanyahu has expressed concern that Israel’s adversaries may rebuild their military capabilities after being weakened by successive conflicts.
Trump’s remarks indicated that he remains closely aligned with Netanyahu, despite reports that some of his aides have privately questioned the Israeli leader’s commitment to the Gaza ceasefire.
His comments also suggested a willingness to risk renewed hostilities linked to Gaza and Iran, even as Trump has claimed credit for resolving Israel’s wars on both fronts.
Before their meeting, Trump struck a warm tone, claiming that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had told him he planned to pardon Netanyahu over corruption-related charges, a claim Herzog’s office swiftly denied. Netanyahu responded by announcing that he would award Trump the Israel Prize, traditionally reserved for Israeli recipients.
Trump’s broader plan to end the Gaza war calls for Israel to withdraw from the territory, Hamas to surrender its weapons and forgo any governing role, and the establishment of a new administrative framework.
The first phase of the ceasefire involved a partial Israeli withdrawal, increased humanitarian aid and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees.
An Israeli official close to Netanyahu said the prime minister would insist that Hamas complete the first phase by returning the remains of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza before any further steps are taken.
The family of the deceased hostage, Ran Gvili, was part of Netanyahu’s delegation. Israel has yet to reopen the Rafah crossing with Egypt, another condition of Trump’s plan, saying it will only do so once Gvili’s remains are returned.
Trump added he and Netanyahu did not fully agree on the future of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, though he did not elaborate on the differences.
Regional issues beyond Gaza were also discussed. Trump said he would raise the possibility of deploying Turkish peacekeepers in Gaza, a sensitive issue given Israel’s strained relations with Turkey, despite Trump’s frequent praise of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
While large-scale fighting in Gaza has eased, violence has not stopped entirely. Since the ceasefire began in October, Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials, while Palestinian militants have killed three Israeli soldiers.
Netanyahu said Israel was keen to ensure a peaceful border with Syria. Trump said he believed Israel would get along with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad last year. Israel, however, remains wary of the new Syrian leadership and has previously bombed government buildings in Damascus. - December 30, 2025
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