Trump Says US Has Crushed Iran’s Military, Warns of More Strikes
The US president says only one or two targets remain as Tehran threatens an immediate and geographically unrestricted response to any fresh attack
US President Donald Trump has said American forces have destroyed much of Iran’s military capability but may still need to strike one or two remaining targets, as Tehran warned that any renewed attack would trigger a far-reaching response.
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Trump made the remarks on Saturday while discussing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran in February.
Speaking to reporters at his Florida residence, the president said discussions with Tehran were progressing but questioned Iran’s reliability.
“Negotiations are going fine, but you know they’re not very reliable,” he said.
Trump maintained that Washington was not in a hurry to launch further offensive operations, arguing that the United States had already significantly weakened 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,” he said.
He specifically mentioned Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear complex, as a possible remaining target.
“You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly,” Trump added.
Iranian authorities have denied that nuclear activities are being carried out at the site.
Earlier on Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had yet to decide whether to authorise additional strikes, adding that Washington remained open to a diplomatic resolution.
Rubio, however, maintained that the United States retained the military capacity to achieve its objectives if the president chose that option.
The latest exchange of warnings followed comments from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who cautioned Washington and Israel against restarting military operations.
In a statement issued after meeting senior military commanders, Khamenei said any threat should attract an immediate and unrestricted response.
“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response,” he said.
He also directed military commanders to update Iran’s list of potential targets to include what he described as all tangible and intangible assets belonging to the “American-Zionist enemy”.
The meeting was reportedly his first with senior military commanders since assuming leadership in March, following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes.
Khamenei has not appeared publicly since before taking over the position.
The renewed threats have raised concerns about the possibility of another escalation, particularly as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent the conflict from spreading.
The political situation in both the United States and Israel has also become a factor in discussions about the war’s future.
Trump had previously suggested that further military action could follow the US midterm elections, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as a “historic, one-time opportunity” to topple the Iranian government.
Israel’s recent general election left Netanyahu’s political camp with the largest number of seats in parliament but without an outright majority, leaving uncertainty over the formation of the next government.
Oil prices and Strait of Hormuz tensions
The conflict has also disrupted international energy markets, with Iran restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption normally passes.
The disruption has contributed to a sharp rise in global energy prices, adding economic pressure ahead of the US midterm elections.
Iran has also previously threatened to target undersea cables running through the strait.
Iranian state television reported on Saturday that a vessel travelling through the waterway had struck a mine and caught fire.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also said on Friday that three oil tankers had been halted following unspecified incidents or encounters with mines.
The restrictions have heightened concerns over the security of international shipping and the potential consequences of a prolonged blockade.
Diplomatic efforts continue
Meanwhile, efforts to prevent a return to full-scale fighting have continued, with Qatar and Pakistan involved in mediation between Washington and Tehran.
Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Friday, while US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei.
Rezaei confirmed receiving the communication in a video broadcast on Iranian television, saying he had not yet responded.
“I read the letter. I haven’t yet responded. Their tone has completely changed,” he said, describing the change as a positive indication without providing further details.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, said there were no immediate plans for direct meetings with American 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 also insisted that Tehran would maintain its restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz until its demands, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, were addressed.
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned that any resumption of hostilities would widen the geographical scope of the conflict.
“The flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area,” he said in a social media post.
Araghchi also warned in a post on X that there would no longer be any “red lines”.
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With Washington maintaining its military options and Tehran threatening retaliation, the ongoing mediation efforts face the challenge of preventing further escalation while addressing the competing demands of both sides.
