Trump supports more Israeli strikes

Washington (dpa) — US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would support further Israeli attacks on Iran if the country rejects a new nuclear agreement and continues advancing its missile and nuclear programmes.

“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are we’re going to have to knock ’em down,” he said during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

Trump suggested that intervention would be even more urgent should diplomatic attempts to halt Iran’s nuclear programme fail. “We’ll do it immediately,” he said of possible attacks in that case.

Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded in a post on X, saying Iran’s missile capability and defence “are not containable or permission-based.”

Trump supports more Israeli strikes

“Any aggression will face an immediate harsh response beyond its planners’ imagination,” he added.

Israel waged war against Iran for 12 days in June, bombing key nuclear facilities in the country together with the United States.

Despite a ceasefire, a diplomatic solution to the conflict between the arch-enemies is not in sight and reports have circulated in both countries about a possible resumption of the war.

According to Israeli information, Iran is working intensively to rebuild its missile arsenal, which, along with its nuclear programme, is viewed by Israel as a major threat.