US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning that it would face consequences “far more powerful than last time” if it resumes prohibited military activity, even as he signaled openness to renewed diplomatic engagement with Tehran.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said US intelligence assessments suggested Iran may be attempting to rebuild or relocate military capabilities following earlier American strikes.

“Iran may be behaving badly,” Trump said. “But if it’s confirmed, the consequences will be very powerful.” He added that previous US actions had significantly degraded Iranian facilities. “The sites were obliterated, but they’re looking at other sites. And if they’re doing that, they’re making a big mistake.”

Despite the warning, Trump indicated that diplomacy remained an option. When asked whether the United States would support renewed bilateral talks with Iran, he replied, “Yeah. I would. Sure.” Trump said he had previously urged negotiations before the situation escalated. “I said, let’s negotiate, and they didn’t believe what was going to happen would happen. Now they believe me.”

Trump framed curbing Iran’s military and regional ambitions as essential to long-term stability in the Middle East. “If they build up, there can’t be peace in the Middle East,” he said, arguing that Iran’s reduced influence had enabled broader regional agreements and improved security dynamics.

Netanyahu echoed Trump’s assessment, asserting that recent actions against Iran had contributed to greater regional stability. Trump added that without curbing Iran’s power, diplomatic breakthroughs with Arab nations would not have been possible. “You wouldn’t have had peace deals because there would have been a dark cloud hanging over everything,” he said.

Reflecting on past US policy decisions, Trump argued that the balance of power in the Middle East had shifted after Iraq was weakened, allowing Iran to expand its influence. “All of a sudden, Iran had the whole Middle East all to itself. But that’s not true anymore,” he said, adding that Tehran’s power and prestige had been significantly diminished.

The discussion also touched on Syria, where Trump expressed respect for the country’s new leadership. “I respect him. He’s a very strong guy,” Trump said of Syria’s president, while crediting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for playing a key role in recent developments there.

Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s priority of maintaining border security and protecting minority communities. “Our interest is to have a peaceful border with Syria,” he said, highlighting concerns for Druze and Christian populations.

Addressing Lebanon, Trump said Hezbollah remained a destabilizing force in the region. “Hezbollah has been behaving badly,” he remarked, signaling continued US vigilance.

The remarks reflect the Trump administration’s broader strategy toward Iran, combining deterrence and military pressure with a stated willingness to pursue negotiations. While reaffirming a tough stance against any Iranian rearmament, Trump underscored that diplomacy remained possible if Tehran chose restraint.