Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly warned U.S. President Trump that Israel would strike Iran if it restarts nuclear weapons development—drawing a cautious response from the U.S. leader. Defense Minister Gallant echoed the warning with a direct, fiery message aimed at Iran’s leadership.
In a high-stakes exchange revealed by The Wall Street Journal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed former U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel would not hesitate to resume direct military action against Iran should it restart efforts to develop nuclear weapons. According to the report, Trump expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions but notably stopped short of opposing Israel’s stated intentions.
The revelation underscores growing Israeli concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions—and a renewed readiness to act preemptively if red lines are crossed.
Just days earlier, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stark public warning to Tehran, reinforcing Israel’s message of deterrence with unmistakable clarity. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for new Air Force pilots, Gallant addressed Iran’s top leadership by name.
“This ceremony sends a direct signal to dictator Khamenei and the Ayatollah regime in Iran: Israel’s reach extends to Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, and any location from which harm is plotted against us,” Gallant declared. “There is no sanctuary. And if we must return—we will return with greater force.”
Gallant’s remarks, laced with urgency and defiance, come amid intensifying regional tensions and a growing belief among Israeli officials that Tehran may be edging closer to a renewed nuclear push. The coordinated tone between Israel’s political and military leadership sends a clear message: any perceived revival of Iran’s nuclear weapons program will be met with swift and decisive consequences.
