Trump endorses Netanyahu as Iran urges nuclear weapons amid rising Middle East tensions

US President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warned of further action against Iran, which is publicly demanding a nuclear deterrent.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:02:57 GMT

US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 19 October 2026, while Iranian officials called for the development of nuclear weapons, according to Gulf News and Al Jazeera.

What happened

At 10:42 PM Gulf News reported that Iranian parliament spokesperson Hassan Ghashghavi said a growing faction in Tehran is demanding the country weaponise its enrichment programme and withdraw from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to create a deterrent against US‑Israeli attacks. The same outlet noted that the Financial Times had quoted Iranian officials declaring that “the time for nuclear weapons has come.”

Earlier that day, Al Jazeera cited a post on Trump’s Truth Social in which the president called Netanyahu a “great warrior prime minister and an even greater partner for peace” and warned that Iran had been “systematically destroyed both militarily and financially” and that the US would “soon finish the job” if Iran did not change its ways.

What the reports add

Gulf News linked the Iranian statements to a broader narrative of regional insecurity, noting that Iran blames Washington for instability in the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera, meanwhile, highlighted Trump’s claim that the United States would have to act alone if Israel were led by anyone other than Netanyahu.

What was said

Hassan Ghashghavi, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security Committee, told Gulf News that a new Supreme Leader ruling could permit nuclear weapons, adding that “nobody” would be able to stop Iran’s deterrent (the quote is truncated in the source).
President Trump wrote on Truth Social, as reported by Al Jazeera, that “Bibi Netanyahu has been Strong, Brave, and Brilliant” and warned that Iran “has been systematically destroyed … and unless they change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job.”

How it came about

Iran’s push for a nuclear deterrent follows earlier calls for the United States to revive the 2024 memorandum of understanding on the Strait of Hormuz, covered by Felo News on 25 September 2026 (Iran urges US to revive MoU). Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu arrives amid a series of US‑Middle East moves, including the deployment of additional troops and a carrier group reported on 2 October 2026 (Trump sends 9,000 troops) and recent Houthi attacks on Saudi airports (Houthis kill 14 in Saudi airport attacks). The convergence of these developments underscores the heightened diplomatic and military volatility in the region.

Key facts

President Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 19 Oct 2026. (aljazeera.com)
Iranian officials said the time for nuclear weapons has come and called for withdrawal from the NPT. (gulfnews.com)
Hassan Ghashghavi said a new Supreme Leader ruling could permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons. (gulfnews.com)
Trump warned that Iran had been systematically destroyed and that the US would soon finish the job if Iran did not change. (aljazeera.com)