Trump Warns Iran of More Stri 12/30 07:22

   

   PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday that 
the U.S. could carry out further military strikes if the country attempts to 
reconstitute its nuclear program as he held wide-ranging talks with Israeli 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his home in Florida.

   Trump had previously insisted that Tehran's nuclear capabilities were 
"completely and fully obliterated" by U.S. strikes on key nuclear enrichment 
sites in June. But with Netanyahu by his side, Trump raised the possibility 
that suspected activity could be taking place outside those sites. Israeli 
officials, meanwhile, have been quoted in local media expressing concern about 
Iran rebuilding its supply of long-range missiles capable of striking Israel.

   "Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again," Trump told reporters 
gathered at his Mar-a-Lago estate. "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."

   Trump's warning to Iran comes as his administration has committed 
significant resources to targeting drug trafficking in South America and the 
president looks to create fresh momentum for the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas 
ceasefire. The Gaza deal is in danger of stalling before reaching its 
complicated second phase that would involve naming an international governing 
body and rebuilding the devastated Palestinian territory.

   At a news conference with Netanyahu after their meeting, Trump suggested 
that he could order another U.S. strike.

   "If it's confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be 
very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time," Trump said.

   Iran has insisted that it is no longer enriching uranium at any site in the 
country, trying to signal to the West that it remains open to potential 
negotiations over its atomic program. The two leaders discussed the possibility 
of taking new military action against Tehran just months after June's 12-day 
war.

   The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a 
request for comment on Trump's warning.

   Gaza ceasefire progress has slowed

   Trump, with Netanyahu by his side, said he wants to get to the second phase 
of the Gaza deal "as quickly as we can."

   "But there has to be a disarming of Hamas," Trump added.

   The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that Trump championed has mostly 
held, but progress has slowed recently. Both sides accuse each other of 
violations, and divisions have emerged among the U.S., Israel and Arab 
countries about the path forward.

   The truce's first phase began in October, days after the two-year 
anniversary of the initial Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 
people. All but one of the 251 hostages taken then have been released, alive or 
dead.

   The Israeli leader, who also met separately with Secretary of State Marco 
Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has signaled he is in no rush to move 
forward with the next phase as long as the remains of Ran Gvili are still in 
Gaza.

   Gvili's parents met with Netanyahu as well as Rubio, U.S. envoy Steve 
Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Florida on Monday.

   "They're waiting for their son to come home," Trump said of the family of 
the young police officer known affectionately as "Rani."

   Next phase is complex

   The path to implementing Trump's peace plan is certainly complicated.

   If successful, the second phase would see the rebuilding of a demilitarized 
Gaza under international supervision by a group chaired by Trump and known as 
the Board of Peace. The Palestinians would form a "technocratic, apolitical" 
committee to run daily affairs in Gaza, under Board of Peace supervision.

   It further calls for normalized relations between Israel and the Arab world 
and a possible pathway to Palestinian independence. Then there are thorny 
logistical and humanitarian questions, including rebuilding war-ravaged Gaza, 
disarming Hamas and creating a security apparatus called the International 
Stabilization Force.

   Much remains unsettled

   Two main challenges have complicated moving to the second phase, according 
to an official who was briefed on those meetings. Israeli officials have been 
taking a lot of time to vet and approve members of the Palestinian technocratic 
committee from a list given to them by the mediators, and Israel continues its 
military strikes.

   Trump's plan also calls for the stabilization force, proposed as a 
multinational body, to maintain security. But it, too, has yet to be formed. 
Whether details will be forthcoming after Monday's meeting is unclear.

   A Western diplomat said there is a "huge gulf" between the U.S.-Israeli 
understanding of the force's mandate and that of other major countries in the 
region, as well as European governments.

   All spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that haven't been 
made public.

   The U.S. and Israel want the force to have a "commanding role" in security 
duties, including disarming Hamas and other militant groups. But countries 
being courted to contribute troops fear that mandate will make it an 
"occupation force," the diplomat said.

   Hamas has said it is ready to discuss "freezing or storing" its arsenal of 
weapons but insists it has a right to armed resistance as long as Israel 
occupies Palestinian territory. One U.S. official said a potential plan might 
be to offer cash incentives in exchange for weapons, echoing a "buyback" 
program Witkoff has previously floated.

   Trump makes case once again for Netanyahu pardon

   The two leaders, who have a long and close relationship, heaped praise on 
each other. Trump also tweaked the Israeli leader, who at moments during the 
war has raised Trump's ire, for being "very difficult on occasion."

   Netanyahu said Trump during the lunch was formally told that his country's 
education ministry will award him the Israel Prize, breaking the long-held 
convention of bestowing the honor on an Israeli citizen or resident.

   "President Trump has broken so many conventions to the surprise of people," 
Netanyahu said. He added, "So we decided to break a convention too, or create a 
new one."

   Trump also renewed his call on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant 
Netanyahu, who is in the midst of a corruption trial, a pardon.

   Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to stand 
trial, after being charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in 
three separate cases accusing him of exchanging favors with wealthy political 
supporters.

   Trump has previously written to Herzog to urge a pardon and advocated for 
one during his October speech before the Knesset. He said Monday that Herzog 
has told him "it's on its way" without offering further details.

   "He's a wartime prime minister who's a hero. How do you not give a pardon?" 
Trump said.

   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 the U.S. president's letter advocating 
for Netanyahu's pardon.

   "During that conversation, an explanation was provided regarding the stage 
of the process in which the request currently stands, and that any decision on 
the matter will be made in accordance with the established procedures," the 
Israeli president's office said.