On December 29, 2025, President Donald Trump delivered a strong message to Iran while meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Trump warned that if Iran tries to rebuild its nuclear program or advance its missile capabilities, the United States would respond with forceful military action.
Standing beside Netanyahu, Trump claimed that U.S. and Israeli forces had already “wiped out” Iran’s nuclear facilities in a recent conflict. “We just won a big war together,” he said. “If we didn’t beat Iran, you wouldn’t have had peace in the Middle East.” He emphasized that any attempt by Tehran to restart its programs would lead to severe consequences. “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 stated. “We’ll knock the hell out of them.”
Trump also expressed support for potential further Israeli strikes if Iran continues developing missiles or nuclear technology. When asked directly, he replied, “If they continue with the missiles — yes. The nuclear — absolutely.”
The warnings came amid reports that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is working on chemical and biological warheads for its ballistic missiles. These allegations, from sources cited by Iran International, raise concerns about unconventional weapons. Iran denies pursuing such weapons and insists its missile program is for defense only. However, experts note that Iran’s missiles have long been capable of carrying non-traditional payloads.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, highlighted Iran’s past actions. He pointed to the country’s use of chemical weapons in the 1980s Iran-Iraq War and its transfer of such technology to Libya. Taleblu also described Iran’s recent use of cluster munitions in a short war with Israel as a possible “dry run” for chemical attacks, since those warheads could easily deliver poison gas.
Satellite images from earlier in 2025 show significant damage to key Iranian sites, like the Fordo enrichment facility, following U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Inside Iran, economic struggles add pressure. The currency has plunged to record lows, inflation is skyrocketing, and shopkeepers in Tehran have gone on strike. Trump noted the unrest but said he would not discuss overthrowing the regime. He mentioned that protests are often met with deadly force by authorities.
Despite the tough talk, Trump left room for diplomacy. He said Iran would be “much smarter” to negotiate a deal and expressed support for direct talks, something he advocated even before the recent conflict.
In a later press conference, Trump repeated his threats, saying any confirmed rebuilding efforts would be “eradicated” quickly. He warned that consequences could be even stronger than before if reports of new sites prove true. Analysts like Taleblu called Trump’s stance historic, as it signals direct U.S. military commitment to countering Iran’s ballistic missile program in support of Israel.
This high-stakes meeting underscores ongoing tensions in the Middle East, with Trump balancing warnings of military action against calls for negotiation.