Pezeshkian Warns of 'Severe' Response as Trump Iran Missile Attack Threat Mounts

The 12-day war in June might've ended, but a much larger storm's brewing in the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened further military action if Tehran tries to rebuild its nuclear or missile programs, prompting a defiant warning from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Trump Iran missile attack threat escalates after Mar-a-Lago summit

On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Standing alongside Netanyahu, Trump told reporters, "Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again... We'll knock the hell out of them."

This marks a significant shift in U.S. rhetoric. While Washington previously focused on Iran's nuclear activities, Trump is now explicitly targeting their ballistic missile facilities—a move long sought by Israel. In response, Pezeshkian labeled the standoff a "full-scale war" and promised that any aggression would be "severe and regret-inducing."

Rebuilding military power after the June conflict

The tension comes just months after the devastating June 2025 war that left over 1,100 Iranians and 28 Israelis dead. During that conflict, Israel launched nearly 360 strikes across Iran, destroying an estimated 1,000 ballistic missiles and killing over 30 senior military commanders.

Despite these heavy losses, Tehran insists its military is now "stronger in terms of equipment and manpower" than before the ceasefire. Israeli officials, however, are sounding the alarm, claiming Iran is quietly replenishing its ballistic stockpiles. Experts warn that while Trump claims Iran's nuclear capabilities were "obliterated," hidden caches of enriched uranium could allow for a rapid production restart.