President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Monday, threatening military strikes if the Islamic Republic attempts to rebuild its ballistic missile program. Speaking at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated that the United States would take decisive action to prevent Iran from reconstituting its military capabilities.
"I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down," Trump declared, signaling a continuation of his administration's maximum pressure approach toward Tehran. The threat comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and ongoing concerns about Iran's regional influence.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed Trump's strong stance, noting that Israel shares the same concerns about Iran's nuclear and missile ambitions. The two leaders discussed coordinated efforts to counter Iranian influence in the region as part of their broader discussions on Middle East security.
The warning follows reports that Iran has been working to restore military infrastructure damaged in previous conflicts. Defense analysts have noted increased activity at several Iranian military facilities in recent months. Iran has not yet officially responded to Trump's latest threats, but has previously maintained that its missile program is purely defensive in nature.
The development adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile Middle East situation, coming just days after the announcement of progress in Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
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