WASHINGTON, Nov 1, (Net) – President Donald Trump said on Saturday
that the United States has knocked out much of Iran’s military but still has
to “take care of” one or two targets, as Tehran warned of reprisals if
attacked.
Trump maintained that negotiations with Iran to end the war, which was
started by the United States and Israel in February, were “going fine but you
know they’re not very reliable.”
The Republican president said the United States is not in a hurry to take
offensive action because it had already decimated Iran’s military and nuclear
program.
“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,” Trump told reporters at
his Florida residence.
“You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of
that. We can do that all very quickly,” he added, referring to a suspected
underground nuclear complex.
The Iranian government denied any nuclear work is carried out there.
Earlier Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump has not made a
decision about fresh strikes on Iran and that the United States would be open
to a diplomatic solution.
Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday warned the United States and Israel against
launching a new offensive, following threats they could resume strikes after
crucial elections in both countries.
Trump had previously warned an attack could come after the US midterms this
week, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “historic,
one-time opportunity” to topple the Iranian government.
The elections in both countries could determine the direction of the
conflict, with Israel having voted in a general election on Tuesday but yet
to form a new government.
“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.
Khamenei also ordered commanders to update 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 military top brass.
The supreme leader has not been seen publicly since before he took the helm
in March, after the killing of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-
Israeli strikes.
– Oil price spike –
Rubio warned that “we can achieve military objectives if we seek to”, adding
that Trump had not made a decision on any fresh strikes.
Since the recent outbreak of the war, Tehran has restricted shipping through
the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries around one-fifth of global oil
consumption.
Iran has previously warned it would also consider severing undersea cables in
the Strait of Hormuz.
A ship traversing the strait struck a mine and caught fire, Iranian state
television reported Saturday.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Friday three oil tankers had been halted
after encountering unspecified “incidents” or hitting mines.
The blockade has caused a spike in global energy prices, making the war
unpopular among the US public ahead of the upcoming polls.
Gains for the opposition Democrats could restrict, to an extent, Trump’s
ability to enact policy.
Voting in Israel has left Netanyahu’s political camp with the most seats in
parliament but short of a majority, leaving the make-up of the next
administration unclear.
– ‘Flames of war’ –
Fresh diplomatic efforts are underway to avert any resumption of fighting.
Qatari mediators landed 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 Rezaei, head of Iran’s supreme national security
council, in a video broadcast on Iranian television.
“I haven’t yet responded. Their tone has completely changed,” he added,
describing that as “a good sign” without going into more detail.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were currently no plans
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.
Rezaei insisted Iran would continue to blockade the Strait of Hormuz until
its conditions, including releasing frozen assets, were met.
Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating between the warring parties, but the
talks have yet to produce a lasting agreement.
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said any resumption of hostilities
would only expand the scope of the war.
“The flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area,”
he said on social media.
Araghchi warned on X that there would no longer be any “red lines”.
