U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee cautioned Tehran on Saturday against challenging the United States militarily, as President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric with threats of devastating retaliation. Speaking on NewsNation's 'Morning in America,' Huckabee framed the administration's stance as a final warning.
'The president's trying to give them one more chance, one more warning, one more understanding,' Huckabee told host Anna Kooiman. 'They need to deal with the fact that they're confronting the most powerful military in the history of the world. Do they really want to test its limits? Let's hope they don't.'
The remarks come after U.S. Central Command carried out retaliatory strikes against roughly 90 targets inside Iran this week, following reported attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM stated the strikes were in response to 'unjustified aggression against commercial shipping and civilian crews freely navigating a vital international waterway.'
Iran has also launched drones and missiles toward U.S. allies in the Middle East, including countries hosting American troops. The escalation has unraveled a 60-day ceasefire agreement, which Trump declared no longer in effect, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
Assassination Plot Allegations Fuel Threats
The conflict has taken a personal turn with reported Israeli intelligence indicating an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, possibly to avenge the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Feb. 28 strike. On Friday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had ordered the military to 'decimate and destroy' Iran if anything happens to him, warning of '1000 Missiles Locked and Loaded.'
Some U.S. officials have suggested to CNN that the intelligence report might be an attempt by Israel to influence Trump's decision-making on further military action. Israel has emerged as a wildcard in regional talks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pursuing goals that may not align with Trump's.
Trump's frustration with Netanyahu was evident in a heated phone call last month, where he reportedly called the prime minister 'f---ing crazy.' Huckabee downplayed the rift, insisting the two leaders share an 'extraordinarily good relationship.'
'This idea that somehow a big gap between Israel and the United States and between the president and the prime minister, it's maybe the pipe dream of people who don't like either one of them, but it is not the reality that I'm sitting in a front row seat to observe,' Huckabee said.
The situation remains fluid as Trump continues to threaten massive retaliation, with the potential for further strikes looming. The administration is also navigating domestic political pressures, as House Republicans bet on Trump to drive midterm turnout in key districts.
