US Ambassador warns Iran could face "third kick of the mule"

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has warned that Iran could face further military action if it fails to change course, saying Tehran has still not learnt from two previous “kicks of the mule”.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, Huckabee said US President Donald Trump was “exasperated” by Iran’s refusal to yield despite what he described as significant damage to the country’s regime and military capabilities after months of fighting.

“Where I come from in America, we have a saying: ‘There is no education in the second kick of the mule,’” Huckabee said.

He added that Iran had now experienced “two kicks of the mule” but still appeared unwilling to change its position.

“They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon, they’re not going to get to enrich uranium, and it may take a ‘third kick of the mule’ at some point,” Huckabee said. “But I hope they get the message. I hope they change their ways.”

Asked whether renewed tensions between the US and Iran could lead to another escalation, Huckabee cautioned that “nobody knows what’s going to happen” in the Middle East.

He also highlighted the close military cooperation between Washington and Jerusalem, describing the joint US-Israeli operation against Iran on February 28 as an unprecedented demonstration of coordination.

“The level of seamless operation that was experienced by both militaries ... was unprecedented,” Huckabee said, describing American and Israeli personnel working side by side and aircraft flying together during the operation.

The ambassador also addressed violence by Israeli citizens against Palestinians in the West Bank, saying “violence is violence” and should be condemned regardless of who commits it.

Huckabee said such incidents were damaging Israel’s international reputation and urged those responsible to consider the consequences of their actions.

On Gaza, he said the return of all Israeli hostages was a significant achievement but criticised Hamas for failing to surrender its weapons.

“While they said they’re going to give up their weapons, do you know how many they’ve given up so far? Zero,” he said.

Huckabee nevertheless expressed hope that continued diplomatic efforts could eventually lead to wider regional peace.

By Aghakazim Guliyev