By: Fern Sidman

President Donald Trump on Sunday delivered one of his starkest warnings yet to Iran, cautioning Tehran against attempting to restart its nuclear weapons program and making clear that the United States, in coordination with Israel, stands ready to act decisively should Iran cross that threshold. His remarks, reported in Israel National News (INN), underscored the volatility of the regional landscape following June’s joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on multiple Iranian nuclear facilities.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stated bluntly: “Iran might renew its nuclear weapons, but I hope it won’t. If that decision is made, we will address it promptly.” The President’s remarks came amid rising speculation that Tehran, emboldened by shifting global alliances and regional unrest, could seek to salvage elements of its nuclear ambitions despite the crippling blow delivered by coordinated strikes earlier this summer.

In June, the U.S. military, working in tandem with Israeli forces, launched precision airstrikes on several of Iran’s most critical nuclear infrastructure sites. Among the facilities hit were Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—locations long associated with uranium enrichment and advanced centrifuge development. The Israel National News report noted that the strikes marked the most aggressive military action taken against Iran’s nuclear program since the covert cyber operations of the past decade, and they represented an unmistakable signal of American-Israeli resolve.

Following the strikes, Trump declared that Iran’s “key nuclear facilities were obliterated.” While independent analysts have debated the full extent of the damage, satellite imagery and intelligence assessments cited by INN indicated that the operational capacity of Iran’s enrichment program was severely degraded. Key centrifuge halls were destroyed, stockpiles of enriched uranium were compromised, and critical infrastructure was rendered inoperable.

For Israel, the strikes were both a tactical success and a strategic reassurance. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have consistently maintained that a nuclear-armed Iran is an existential threat. As Israel National News reported at the time, the joint action represented the culmination of years of coordination between Washington and Jerusalem, underscoring that Israel would not stand alone in confronting Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Trump’s comments on Sunday left little ambiguity about his readiness to authorize additional strikes if intelligence suggests Iran is attempting to revive its nuclear program. When asked directly whether he would consider bombing Iranian nuclear sites again, Trump responded: “Sure, without question, absolutely—it has to be unbelievable.”

The phrase, noted in the INN report, reflects Trump’s consistent framing of military action: decisive, overwhelming, and intended to shock adversaries into deterrence. He further emphasized that he does not believe Iran can “go back into nuclear anytime soon” following the June strikes. Yet his warning carried an unmistakable message: should Tehran attempt to rebuild its capabilities, the U.S. would not hesitate to act again, potentially with even greater force.

This posture aligns closely with longstanding Israeli defense doctrine. As Israel National News frequently emphasizes, Israel’s security establishment views preemptive or preventive action against Iran’s nuclear program as not only legitimate but necessary. Trump’s statements therefore resonate deeply within Israeli strategic circles, reinforcing the perception of a unified American-Israeli front.

For Iran, the devastation of its nuclear facilities represents a profound setback. Years of investment in enrichment technology, fortified underground sites, and regional deterrence strategies were undone in a matter of hours. Yet, as analysts cited in the INN report caution, the regime in Tehran is unlikely to abandon its ambitions altogether. The challenge for U.S. and Israeli policymakers is to assess whether Iran will attempt a rapid reconstruction of its program or adopt a more patient, clandestine approach.

Tehran’s leadership has so far oscillated between defiance and pragmatism. Official statements have condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty and threats to regional stability, while at the same time hinting at continued adherence to aspects of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The mixed signals reflect the regime’s precarious position: unwilling to appear weak domestically, yet acutely aware of its vulnerability to further attacks.

In this regard, Trump’s public remarks serve a dual purpose. On one hand, they reassure Israel and America’s regional allies—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others—that Washington remains committed to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. On the other hand, they seek to deter Tehran from even considering a rapid restart of enrichment activities.

For Israel, the stakes could not be higher. As Israel National News repeatedly highlights, Iranian leaders have openly called for the destruction of the Jewish state, and Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, continues to amass rockets aimed at Israel’s northern border. Against this backdrop, any hint of renewed nuclear activity in Iran is perceived as an existential threat.

Israeli officials have long insisted that the international community failed to curb Iran’s ambitions through diplomacy alone. The collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement, followed by years of Iranian violations and incremental enrichment, vindicated Israel’s warnings. The June strikes, therefore, were not merely tactical; they were a vindication of the principle that only decisive action can halt Iran’s march toward nuclear weapons.

The INN report noted that within Israel’s security cabinet, there is broad consensus that deterrence must be maintained. Trump’s statement that Iran cannot “go back into nuclear anytime soon” echoes the Israeli belief that consistent, forceful pressure is the only viable strategy.

The impact of Trump’s warnings extends beyond the immediate U.S.-Iran-Israel triangle. Across the Middle East, Arab states wary of Iranian influence are watching closely. Nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, themselves targets of Iranian drone and missile attacks, view a strong American-Israeli response as essential to regional stability.

According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, the strikes and Trump’s subsequent remarks have reshaped regional calculations. The Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, were already driven in part by shared concerns about Iran. Now, the willingness of Washington to act militarily strengthens the perception of a cohesive anti-Iran coalition.

Yet challenges remain. Iran retains significant asymmetric capabilities, including proxy forces in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. Should Tehran feel cornered, it could escalate through regional militias, cyberattacks, or maritime disruptions in the Persian Gulf. Trump’s warning of “massive bloodshed” if Iran defies the ceasefire framework in Gaza or restarts its nuclear program may well reflect the broader dangers of escalation across multiple fronts.

President Trump’s remarks on Sunday mark a critical moment in the evolving confrontation with Iran. By explicitly warning Tehran that any attempt to renew its nuclear program would be met with decisive action, Trump has reaffirmed both American resolve and the strength of the U.S.-Israeli alliance.

As the Israel National News report observed, the June strikes were unprecedented in their scope and impact, but they did not end the Iranian nuclear question. The coming months will test whether Tehran can be deterred from restarting its program—or whether the world will once again be confronted with the specter of escalation.

For now, Trump’s message is clear: the price of pursuing nuclear weapons will be intolerably high. For Israel, that clarity provides reassurance in an otherwise unstable region. For Iran, it presents a stark choice between restraint and renewed confrontation.