Trump warns Iran, calls on Hamas to disarm

2025-12-30 09:27:51, Kosova & Bota CNA

United States President Donald Trump has said the US could support another major attack on Iran if it resumes rebuilding its nuclear programs, and warned Hamas of serious consequences if it does not disarm.

Hamas is a Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the US and other powers.

Speaking on December 29 alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump suggested that Tehran may be working to restore its nuclear weapons programs after the June bombings.

"I've read that they're developing weapons and other things, and if they're doing that, they're not using the places that we completely destroyed, but maybe other places," Trump told reporters during a press conference.

"We know exactly where they're going, what they're doing, and I hope they don't do that, because we don't want to waste fuel on B-2s," he added, referring to the bomber used in previous attacks.

"It's a 37-hour round trip. I don't want to waste too much fuel," he said.

Trump, who in recent months has raised the possibility of a nuclear deal with Tehran, said his talks with Netanyahu focused on advancing the fragile peace deal in Gaza, which he brokered, as well as addressing Israeli concerns about Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, said last week it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month.

Netanyahu said last week that Israel was not seeking confrontation with Iran, but that it was aware of the reports, and would discuss Tehran's activities with Trump.

Trump said he wants to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, reached in October after two years of fighting in Gaza.

The second phase involves the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in the Palestinian enclave.

Israel and Hamas accuse each other of major violations of the agreement and appear no closer to accepting the much more difficult steps envisaged for the next phase.

Hamas, which refuses to disarm, has tightened its grip as Israeli troops now occupy only half of Gaza's territory.

Israel has hinted that, if Hamas does not disarm peacefully, it will resume military action to force it to do so.

Trump blamed the militant group for not disarming more quickly, arguing that Israel had fulfilled its part of the deal and warning that Hamas was inciting serious consequences.

"There will be terrible consequences," Trump warned when asked what he would do if Hamas did not hand over its weapons.

He has made similar statements on previous occasions during the fighting.

Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza envisions Israel withdrawing from Palestinian territory, disarming Hamas, and removing it from the governing role in the enclave.

The first phase of the ceasefire included a partial Israeli withdrawal, increased aid and the exchange of hostages with Palestinian detainees and prisoners./REL