US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran amid reports suggesting Tehran may be attempting to revive its missile infrastructure after earlier US strikes. Speaking after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said any move by Iran to restart its missile programme would invite a forceful response from Washington.
According to Trump, intelligence inputs indicate that Iran could be rebuilding its military capabilities at locations different from those targeted during US operations earlier this year. While the information has not been officially confirmed, Trump made it clear that the US would not hesitate to act if such activities are proven.
“I’m hearing that Iran might be trying to build things back up. If that’s true, the response will be very strong,” Trump told reporters, adding that Tehran was given an opportunity to resolve tensions through negotiations earlier but failed to do so.
The US President also noted that if Iran is indeed reconstructing weapons facilities, it is likely avoiding previously destroyed sites and shifting operations elsewhere. He expressed hope that these reports would turn out to be inaccurate but warned that the consequences would be severe if Iran crossed the red line.
In response, Iran’s leadership pushed back sharply. Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran’s defence and missile capabilities are not subject to external approval. He warned that any hostile action against Iran would be met with an immediate and overwhelming response.
Earlier this year, the US carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, including the highly fortified Fordow site. Trump has repeatedly claimed the operation significantly weakened Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The Fordow strike reportedly involved advanced bunker-buster bombs dropped by US B-2 stealth bombers.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has voiced renewed concerns over Iran’s ballistic missile activities and is expected to advocate for stricter measures during ongoing discussions with US officials.