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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a quick response to President Donald Trump's warning against reconstituting its nuclear program.
"The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to any oppressive aggression will be harsh and regrettable," Pezeshkian wrote in a post translated from Persian on his X account Tuesday (December 30).
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, also claimed that Iran's response would go "beyond what the attacker expects" in a quote shared by the state-run Nour News agency via NBC News. Trump warned Iran against reconstituting its nuclear program while addressing reporters during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday (December 29).
Trump's warning came after he publicly insisted that Iran's nuclear capabilities were “completely and fully obliterated” following U.S. strikes on key nuclear sites in June, despite Israeli officials expressing concerns publicly about Iran potentially rebuilding its supply of long-range missiles.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” Trump told reporters shortly after Netanyahu arrived his estate on Monday via the Associated Press. “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.”
The Trump administration has committed resources to targeting drug trafficking in South America following the brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire. The Gaza deal is, however, threatened to be stalled prior to reaching its second phase, which calls for an international governing body being named and the rebuilding of the Palestinian territory.
Iran has publicly claimed that it's no longer enriching uranium, but Netanyahu was expected to discuss potential new military action against Theran during his Mar-a-Lago visit, which takes place months after launching a 12-day war with Iran.