Iran warns of harsh response as Trump threatens Hamas and Tehran following Netanyahu meeting

Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday, where the US president warned Hamas that it would face severe consequences if it failed to disarm under the Gaza ceasefire framework, while also threatening decisive action against any attempt by Iran to rebuild its nuclear or ballistic missile capabilities, prompting Tehran to respond that any aggression against the country would trigger an immediate and harsh retaliation.

The meeting, the fifth between Trump and Netanyahu in the United States since Trump’s return to power this year, took place amid heightened regional tensions following the brief but intense conflict earlier this summer involving Israel, Iran and the United States, as well as ongoing uncertainty over the stalled second phase of the Gaza peace plan.

Trump reiterated strong backing for Netanyahu, signalling that Washington remained aligned with Israel’s security priorities despite reports of unease within sections of the US administration over the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

Iran reacted sharply to Trump’s remarks, with Ali Shamkhani, a senior political adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that Iran’s missile capability and defence posture were neither subject to external permission nor capable of being constrained, while warning that any hostile action would be met with a response far exceeding the expectations of its planners.

Iranian authorities also dismissed reports that Tehran was rebuilding its nuclear infrastructure as a psychological campaign, while emphasising that the country remained fully prepared to defend itself against renewed attacks.

Israeli officials and media outlets have expressed concern in recent months that Iran is attempting to restore parts of its ballistic missile arsenal after it was damaged during the 12-day war with Israel in June, concerns that Netanyahu has repeatedly raised with US leaders.

Trump suggested that Iran might be seeking to develop alternative nuclear sites to replace those targeted during the conflict, while also indicating that Washington believed Tehran was still interested in reaching a broader agreement covering its nuclear and missile programmes, claims that Iran continues to deny.

The talks between Trump and Netanyahu were also dominated by the future of Gaza, as the US president maintained pressure on Hamas to meet its obligations under the ceasefire deal, particularly regarding disarmament, while treating the question of Israeli troop withdrawals as a separate issue to be discussed later.

Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure and an election within the next year, has insisted that Hamas must first return the remains of all Israeli hostages still held in Gaza before any further progress can be made.

Hamas, which retains significant quantities of small arms but far fewer heavy weapons than it possessed before its October 2023 attack on southern Israel, has rejected full disarmament, arguing that it will not relinquish its weapons while Israeli occupation continues.

Since the ceasefire came into effect in October, Israeli military operations have killed hundreds of Palestinians, adding to the tens of thousands who died during the earlier phases of the war, while Hamas has consolidated its control over large parts of Gaza through forceful measures against rivals and suspected collaborators.

During the Florida visit, Netanyahu announced that Trump would be awarded the Israel Prize, the country’s highest civilian honour, marking the first time it has been bestowed on a non-Israeli.

Trump, for his part, praised Netanyahu’s leadership during the conflict and suggested that international backers of the peace plan would act decisively against Hamas if it failed to comply with the agreement.