During a meeting in Florida with Netanyahu at his home, Trump warned that the United States would strike again if “confirmed” Iranian activity shows a move to restart or reconstitute its nuclear program, according to remarks he made to reporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump said he previously believed U.S. strikes in June had left Iran’s nuclear capabilities “completely and fully obliterated,” but with Netanyahu by his side he raised the possibility that any suspected activity could be outside the sites hit earlier.
Trump’s comments came as he also discussed the political path for his administration’s Gaza ceasefire efforts, including momentum toward what he described as the deal’s next step. At a news conference following his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump suggested he could order another U.S. strike and said the possible consequences could be “very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time.”
Trump raised the nuclear threat in a warning framed around verification, telling reporters: “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” and adding, “And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down.” He also said he “hope[s] that’s not happening.”
The meeting also highlighted concern among Israeli officials about Iran rebuilding its ability to supply long-range missiles, even as Iran’s government has insisted it is no longer enriching uranium and said it remains open to negotiations over its atomic program. The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Trump’s warning, according to the report.
Separately, Trump and Netanyahu addressed how to move toward the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which the Israeli leader and others have described as difficult to implement. Trump said he wants to reach the second phase “as quickly as we can,” but he added that “there has to be a disarming of Hamas.”
The ceasefire that Trump championed began in October, days after the two-year anniversary of the initial Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people. The truce has mostly held, with both sides accusing each other of violations, and divisions have emerged among the United States, Israel and Arab countries over how to proceed.
The report said Netanyahu has signaled he is in no rush to move to the next stage while the remains of Ran Gvili remain in Gaza. Gvili’s parents met with Netanyahu and also with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Florida on Monday, and Trump said, “They’re waiting for their son to come home.”
Implementing Trump’s broader Gaza plan would require navigating a set of steps that go beyond the ceasefire itself. Under the envisioned second phase, Gaza would be rebuilt as a demilitarized territory under international supervision by a group chaired by Trump and referred to as the Board of Peace, while Palestinians would form a “technocratic, apolitical” committee to manage daily affairs under Board of Peace oversight.
The plan also includes normalized relations between Israel and the Arab world and a possible pathway to Palestinian independence, along with complex logistical and humanitarian issues such as rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza, disarming Hamas, and establishing a security structure known as the International Stabilization Force. The report said whether details about the force will be forthcoming after Monday’s meeting was unclear.
According to an official briefed on the meetings, two main challenges have complicated the move to the second phase: Israel has taken time to vet and approve members of a proposed Palestinian technocratic committee from a list provided by mediators, and Israel continues its military strikes. A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there is a “huge gulf” between the U.S. and Israeli understanding of the force’s mandate and the mandates envisioned by other regional countries as well as European governments.
The report said the U.S. and Israel want the stabilization force to have a “commanding role” in security duties, including disarming Hamas and other militant groups, but countries being courted to contribute troops fear the mandate would make it an “occupation force.” It also said Hamas has said it is ready to discuss “freezing or storing” its arsenal but insists it has a right to armed resistance as long as Israel occupies Palestinian territory. One U.S. official said a potential approach might involve cash incentives for weapons, echoing a “buyback” program Witkoff has previously floated.
While the discussions covered both deterrence and ceasefire implementation, Trump and Netanyahu also exchanged praise. Netanyahu said Trump was informed during lunch that Israel’s education ministry will award him the Israel Prize, breaking a longstanding convention of awarding the honor to an Israeli citizen or resident. Netanyahu also renewed praise for Trump’s approach and said he was calling on Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon.
Trump renewed his pardon call during the meeting and said Herzog told him “it’s on its way” without providing further details. Herzog’s office said in a statement that the Israeli president and Trump have not spoken since the pardon request was submitted, but that Herzog has spoken with a Trump representative about Trump’s letter advocating for Netanyahu’s pardon. The office said an explanation was provided about “the stage of the process in which the request currently stands,” and that any decision will be made “in accordance with the established procedures.”