Xinhua
30 Dec 2025, 15:15 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued warnings to Hamas and Iran, as the second phase of the Gaza peace plan and concerns over Tehran's missile program dominated his closed-door talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.
Analysts said Trump's remarks were aimed at projecting leverage on both Gaza and Iran, but cautioned that rhetoric alone is unlikely to resolve the underlying challenges.
HAMAS DISARMAMENT
Trump said Hamas would be given only a "very short period of time to disarm" and warned there would be "hell to pay" if it failed to comply.
"They're going to be given a very short period of time to disarm," Trump told reporters after meeting with Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence, adding that his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would oversee the disarmament process.
"If they don't disarm as they agreed to do ... then there will be hell to pay for them," Trump said. "But we don't want that. We're not looking for that."
Trump said earlier that he would try to launch the second phase of the Gaza peace plan "as quickly as we can," stressing that Hamas' disarmament would be a central condition.
Trump also said he was "not concerned" about Israel's actions under the ceasefire, claiming Israel had "lived up to the plan 100 percent," while acknowledging differences with Netanyahu over how to address settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu has reportedly indicated he will not rush the transition to the next phase of the peace plan while the remains of Ran Gvili -- believed to be the last unrecovered Israeli hostage -- remain in Gaza.
The ceasefire remains in the first of three phases outlined in the plan, with details of the second phase yet to be finalized.
The second phase is expected to include Hamas' disarmament, the start of reconstruction, and new governance arrangements for Gaza, potentially overseen by an international "Board of Peace" led by Trump.
Gaza health authorities said Saturday that 414 Palestinians have been killed and 1,142 wounded since the latest ceasefire began on Oct. 10.
Analysts said that even if a phase-two agreement is announced, core issues, including who governs Gaza, security arrangements, and the absence of a clear path toward Palestinian statehood, would remain unresolved.
IRAN MISSILE PROGRAM
Trump said Monday that Iran may be attempting to expand its weapons capabilities at new sites, warning of "very powerful" consequences if Tehran proceeds.
"I hope Iran is not trying to build up, as I've been reading, that they're building up weapons," Trump said at a joint appearance with Netanyahu. "If they are, they're not using the sites that we obliterated, but they're using possibly different sites."
"If it's confirmed, there will be consequences. Maybe more powerful than last time," he said.
Trump also warned that his administration would support another swift military strike if Iran attempts to redevelop its ballistic missile program.
"I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down," Trump told reporters at the start of his talks with Netanyahu.
Trump urged Iran to pursue a "deal" with Washington, saying it would be "smarter."
In response, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, said any aggression would receive a strong, immediate response that goes beyond what the attacker expects, Iran's state-run Nour News agency reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said last week that Iran's missile program is defensive and "non-negotiable," criticizing what he called Western "hypocrisy."
On June 13, Israel launched surprise airstrikes on multiple targets in Iran, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan --an operation Trump has since described as a major military success.
Get a daily dose of Chile Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Chile Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. aviation regulators have issued new safety warnings for airlines operating across parts of Latin America, cautioning...
HONG KONG: China closed 2025 with its largest trade surplus on record, underscoring how exports to the rest of the world have cushioned...
(Photo credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images) Brian Gutierrez and Richard Ledezma, who have both American and Mexican citizenships,...
(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images) Three seeded men's players advanced with relative ease to the third round of the Australian...
China firmly supports multilateralism, free trade: vice premier Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Tuesday called on the global community...
Davos [Switzerland], January 21 (ANI): The BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) on Tuesday announced its commitment to help...
DAVOS, Switzerland: The world's richest individuals tightened their grip on both wealth and political influence last year, reaching...
MADRID, Spain: Calling the allegations against him of sexual misconduct absolutely untrue, Grammy-winning singer Julio Iglesias has...
MADRID, Spain: Global tourism continued to expand in 2025, but the United States moved against the trend, recording fewer foreign visitors...
New Delhi [India], January 21 (ANI): On Tuesday, a day before a final call is expected from the International Cricket Council (ICC)...
ABU DHABI, 21st January, 2026 (WAM) -- As per an agreement signed with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian...
Tokyo [Japan], January 21 (ANI): A Japanese court sentenced the killer of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to life in prison,...
