Netanyahu Says Israel Will Not Allow Iran to Resume Its Ballistic Missile Program

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would not allow Iran to revive its ballistic missile program, days after US President Donald Trump issued a similar threat.

"We will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry, and of course we will not allow it to renew the nuclear program that we have significantly damaged," Netanyahu told lawmakers, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (6/1).

"If we are attacked, the consequences for Iran will be very heavy," he warned.

Netanyahu's threat came days after President Trump threatened to "wipe out" Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, after the two leaders met in Washington last week.

Israeli officials and media have expressed concern in recent months that Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile arsenal after it was damaged during a 12-day war with Israel in June.

President Trump said Iran was "probably behaving badly" and was considering a new nuclear site to replace the site that was the target of a US attack during the same conflict, as well as restoring its missile stockpiles.

"I hope they don't try to build up their strength again because if they do, we will have no choice but to immediately eradicate the development of that strength," said President Trump, adding that the US response "will probably be stronger than before."

However, he said he believed Iran was still interested in an agreement with Washington on its nuclear and missile programs.

It is known that Teheran has since denied that they are trying to obtain nuclear weapons.