With tensions simmering as Tehran vows retaliation, President Donald Trump said the United States has already crippled much of Iran’s military capacity but still intends to “take care of” one or two remaining targets.
Speaking at his Florida residence, Mr Trump portrayed talks with Iran aimed at ending the war — which he said was started by the United States and Israel in February — as progressing, while casting doubt on Tehran’s trustworthiness.
“Going fine but you know they’re not very reliable,” the Republican president said of negotiations, arguing the United States is under no pressure to launch new offensive action because it has already devastated Iran’s military and nuclear programme.
“We’ve knocked out their nuclear. We still have to take care of, I would say one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes,” Mr Trump told reporters.
He singled out what he described as a likely underground nuclear facility. “You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly,” he said.
Iran’s government has denied any nuclear work is conducted at the site.
Earlier yesterday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Mr Trump had not decided whether to order additional strikes on Iran, while stressing the United States remains open to a diplomatic off-ramp.
In Tehran, Iran’s supreme leader issued a warning to the United States and Israel against launching a new offensive, after threats that attacks could resume following pivotal elections in both countries.
Mr Trump had previously suggested an attack could come after the US midterms on Tuesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “historic, one-time opportunity” to topple the Iranian government.
The political stakes in Washington and Jerusalem could shape what comes next. Israel voted in a general election last Tuesday but has yet to form a new government, leaving the next administration’s make-up uncertain.
“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response,” Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei told top military commanders, according to a statement.
He also instructed commanders to revise Iran’s target list to include “all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy”.
This was the first reported meeting between Khamenei and the military’s top brass.
The supreme leader has not appeared publicly since before assuming leadership in March, after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes.
Oil price spike
Mr Rubio said “we can achieve military objectives if we seek to”, while reiterating that Mr Trump had not yet made a decision on any further strikes.
Since the war’s latest escalation, Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.
Iran has also previously warned it could consider cutting undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state television reported yesterday that a ship transiting the strait struck a mine and caught fire.
On Friday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said three oil tankers had been halted after running into unspecified “incidents” or hitting mines.
The disruption has sent global energy prices higher, a surge that has fueled US public unease about the war as the country approaches the polls.
Any gains by opposition Democrats could, to an extent, constrain Mr Trump’s ability to enact policy.
In Israel, voting left Mr Netanyahu’s political camp with the most seats in parliament but short of a majority, keeping the future government unclear.
Against that backdrop, new diplomatic moves are under way to prevent a return to full-scale fighting.
Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Friday, and US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei.
“I read the letter,” said Mr Rezaei, who heads Iran’s supreme national security council, in a video aired on Iranian television.
“I haven’t yet responded. Their tone has completely changed,” he said, calling that shift “a good sign” but offering no additional details.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were no plans at present for meetings with US officials.
“Iran’s conditions are clear, and consultations regarding them are ongoing among mediators,” he said in an interview with Al Jazeera, according to the state news agency IRNA.
Mr Rezaei said Iran would maintain its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz until its demands — including the release of frozen assets — were met.
Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating between the warring sides, though the talks have yet to produce a durable agreement.
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned that renewed fighting would broaden the conflict.
“The flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area,” he said on social media.
Mr Araghchi wrote on X that there would no longer be any “red lines”.
