SRINAGAR: US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face “very powerful” consequences if it attempts to rebuild its ballistic missile programme, following unconfirmed reports that Tehran may be developing missiles at sites not previously targeted by US strikes.
Speaking after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again. And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.” He added that Iran “may have been behaving badly” and that the consequences would be more severe than last time if the reports prove true, ABC News reported.
Trump indicated that intelligence suggests Iran could be rebuilding weapons infrastructure at new locations, not those previously struck by US forces. Earlier this year, the US carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordow site, reportedly using six 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs deployed by B-2 stealth bombers — an operation Trump described as having “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme.
The US President’s remarks follow warnings from Netanyahu that Iran is expanding its ballistic missile activities and may prompt calls for tougher action during discussions with the United States.
