Netanyahu Vows to Block Iran’s Missile, Nuclear Comeback as Trump Issues Fresh Warning

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a fresh warning to Iran, declaring that Israel will not allow Tehran to rebuild its ballistic missile capability or revive its nuclear programme, just days after similar threats from United States President Donald Trump.

Speaking before Israeli lawmakers on Monday, Netanyahu said Iran’s strategic weapons programmes had been significantly damaged and would not be permitted to recover.

“We will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry, and certainly we will not allow it to renew the nuclear programme that we significantly damaged,” he said.
“If we are attacked, the consequences for Iran will be very severe.”

Netanyahu’s remarks come shortly after President Trump threatened to “eradicate” Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, following a meeting between the two leaders in Washington last week.

Israeli officials and local media have in recent months raised concerns that Iran is attempting to rebuild its ballistic missile arsenal, which reportedly suffered major setbacks during the 12-day conflict with Israel in June.

Trump also expressed suspicion that Tehran may be developing new nuclear sites to replace facilities hit by US airstrikes during the conflict, while seeking to replenish its missile stockpiles.

“I hope they’re not trying to build up again because if they are, we’re going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildup,” Trump said, warning that any future response “may be more powerful than the last time.”

Despite the tough rhetoric, Trump said he believed Iran remained interested in negotiating a deal with Washington over its nuclear and missile programmes. Iranian authorities, however, continue to deny seeking nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu also pointed to growing unrest inside Iran, saying protests against economic hardship and political conditions had intensified.

“It is very possible that we are at a decisive moment — a moment when the Iranian people will take their destiny into their own hands,” he told parliament.

Protests first erupted on December 28 after shopkeepers in Tehran launched a strike over rising prices and economic stagnation. The demonstrations have since spread to other cities and evolved to include broader political demands.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel stood firmly with Iranian protesters.

“We stand in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom, liberty and justice,” he said during a weekly cabinet meeting.