Trump threatens to ‘immediately’ strike Iran again if it rebuilds missile, nuclear programs

President Trump said Monday that he will “immediately” hit Iran with another airstrike if it tries to rebuild its ballistic and nuclear programs.

“I hear that Iran is trying to build up again and if they are, we’re going to knock them down,” Mr. Trump told reporters ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the president’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

The president draw a distinction between the two programs, emphasizing that Iran’s nuclear program poses a much greater threat than its ballistic missile development.

“One will be yes, absolutely, the other will be, we’ll do it immediately,” Mr. Trump said. 

He also encouraged Iran to make a deal with the U.S., saying it would be the “smarter move.” 

“They could have made a deal the last time before we went through, you know, a big attack on them,” Mr. Trump said. 

In June, the U.S. bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, which the U.S. has hailed as a major military success. But Iranian President Masoud Pezehkian last month vowed that his country will rebuild its nuclear facilities “with greater strength” and maintained that Iran doesn’t want a nuclear weapon. 

“Destroying buildings and factories will not create a problem for us, we will rebuild and with great strength,” the Iranian president told state media. 

Mr. Netanyahu is visiting Mr. Trump at his Florida residence to discuss the second phase of the Gaza peace plan, as well as to combat Iranian aggression. He is the second world leader to have a sit-down with Mr. Trump in Florida this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Mr. Trump on Sunday. 

The president said the focus of Monday’s meeting will be to advance the Gaza peace plan into its second phase. 

“Very quickly, as quickly as we can, but there has to be a disarmament, we have to disarm with Hamas,” Mr. Trump said, adding that reconstruction of Gaza is “going to begin pretty soon.” 

The second phase of the Gaza peace deal includes Hamas’ disarmament, the reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a post-war governorship committee. It also includes a Board of Peace that would consist of Mr. Trump and other world leaders.