Trump Warns of Covert Iranian "Nuclear" Rebuilding in Summit with Netanyahu; Signals Continued Military Pressure

Trump Warns of Covert Iranian "Nuclear" Rebuilding in Summit with Netanyahu; Signals Continued Military Pressure

WASHINGTON (Dec. 29, 2025) – In a sharp escalation of rhetoric during his bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago today, President Donald Trump explicitly warned that Iran appears to be reconstituting its nuclear program at covert locations. The remarks effectively extinguish lingering hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough before the year’s end.

The President’s specific, repeated use of the phrase "nuclear program" and his reference to "sites other than those U.S. bombed" marked a focal point for analysts tracking the administration's posture. By prioritizing this issue alongside Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump has signaled that containment—enforced by the threat of renewed military action—remains the governing doctrine.

The "Dispersion" Strategy The President’s comments appear to corroborate fresh intelligence briefings provided by Israeli officials leading up to today’s summit. Following the "Operation Midnight Hammer" airstrikes in June 2025, which targeted centralized enrichment facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, assessments suggest Tehran has pivoted to a strategy of dispersion.

Intelligence analysts indicate that by shifting operations to undisclosed, smaller locations, Iran aims to insulate its program from future aerial attacks. This shift is compounded by a six-month blackout on international oversight; Tehran suspended International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections immediately following the June conflict, creating a critical visibility gap regarding the timeline of potential weaponization.

Diplomatic Window Closes Trump’s combative tone casts severe doubt on the prospect of resumed negotiations in the immediate term. With only two days remaining in 2025, the President’s assertion that the U.S. stands ready to "knock them down" again sharply contradicts speculative reports of a sudden diplomatic thaw or the resumption of official talks by December 31.

While the administration formally retains a stance open to de-escalation, the rhetoric from Mar-a-Lago aligns closely with Netanyahu’s position: the June strikes were a temporary tactical success requiring sustained pressure. Consequently, the likelihood of a new U.S.-Iran agreement or a return to the negotiating table in the first quarter of 2026 appears increasingly remote.