Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a stark warning to Iran on Monday, promising a "very severe response" should the Islamic Republic take any action against Israel. The statement came during a joint press conference in Jerusalem following a high-level trilateral summit with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
A Firm Warning Amid Rising Tensions
Speaking on December 22, 2025, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is "not seeking confrontation" but is closely monitoring Iranian military activities. He specifically referenced recent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile drills, which Israeli and U.S. intelligence have reportedly assessed could serve as a potential cover for a strike against Israel.
"We are following this and we are making the necessary preparations," Netanyahu stated unequivocally. "I want to make it clear to Iran here, any action against Israel will be met with a very severe response." The Prime Minister's comments underscore the heightened state of alert in the region, just six months after a major 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June.
Diplomatic Moves and Shared Concerns
The warning was issued from the Citadel of David Hotel in Jerusalem, where Netanyahu hosted the leaders of Greece and Cyprus. The trilateral meeting focused on regional security and cooperation. When asked if Iran would be a topic at his upcoming sixth meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled for December 29 at Mar-a-Lago, Netanyahu confirmed it would be discussed.
He reiterated Israel's core demands, which align with Washington's position: halting high-level uranium enrichment, ceasing other provocative nuclear activities, and ending Iran's proxy wars against Israel. "We are not seeking confrontation with anyone … we seek stability, prosperity and peace," Netanyahu added, pointing to what he called "great achievements" from the recent conflict.
U.S. Ambassador Reinforces the Message
The Israeli leader's firm stance was echoed by U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee. In a video aired on Tuesday, Huckabee responded to reports that Iran is attempting to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs despite the joint Israeli-American military operation earlier in the year.
"Iran, I don’t know if they ever took him [Trump] seriously, until the night that the B-2 bombers went to Fordow. I hope they got the message, but apparently they didn’t get the full message," Huckabee stated during an interview with the Institute for National Security Studies. He warned that Iran's actions pose a threat not only to Israel but to the United States and Europe as well.
Huckabee expressed approval for the recent reimposition of snapback sanctions against Tehran, calling them "very important" measures that could help "choke off Iran’s ability to do what they’re trying to do." He issued a blunt assessment of European allies, suggesting that if they fail to comprehend the Iranian threat, "then they’re dumber than I sometimes think they are."
The coordinated messages from Jerusalem and the U.S. embassy highlight a continued, firm international stance against Iranian aggression, setting the stage for Netanyahu's critical discussions with President Trump at the end of the month.
