Trump Warns Iran He’ll ‘Knock the Hell Out of Them’

On December 29, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump stood alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and issued a blunt warning to Iran that the United States — with Israeli backing — would hit Iranian targets again if Tehran rebuilds its nuclear weapons or missile programmes. Trump said he had heard “Iran is trying to build up again,” and if that is true, “we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them.”

Trump framed the statement as a deterrent, while stressing that Iran would be “much smarter” to pursue diplomatic talks instead of rebuilding its arsenal. He also said the previous U.S.–Israeli strikes in June — which hit Iran’s nuclear sites — had “obliterated” those facilities but hinted that suspected work may be occurring at other locations.

Context: Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Programmes

Earlier clashes this year included U.S. air strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, which Trump has repeatedly described as a major military success that significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Tehran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons and maintains its programmes are for civilian energy use.

Israeli officials have also expressed concern about Iran’s ballistic missiles, which could pose a threat to Israel and U.S. forces in the region. These worries were among the topics discussed during the Trump-Netanyahu meeting, where regional security and cooperation were front and centre.

Trump said if Iran continues with its missile or nuclear efforts, the U.S. and Israel would not hesitate to intervene again — potentially “immediately” — reflecting the hardline stance he and Netanyahu have taken on Tehran’s strategic ambitions.

Reaction and Wider Regional Impact

Trump’s warning comes amid economic and political turmoil within Iran. Its currency, the rial, has plunged to record lows, sparking protests in major cities over inflation and cost-of-living pressures. Many Iranians are demanding economic reforms and expressing frustration over domestic hardship amid ongoing sanctions and geopolitical tension.

At the same time, Iranian leadership has framed U.S. and Western actions as aggression and destabilisation, with Tehran declaring the country is engaged in a “total war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe. Iranian officials say foreign pressure aims to “bring our country to its knees” while insisting their programmes are peaceful.

Hardline rhetoric on both sides raises the risk of further escalation in the region, which remains volatile following months of conflicts, including the Gaza ceasefire negotiations and broader Middle East tensions.

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