US President Donald Trump has said the United States still has one or two targets to deal with in Iran, despite claiming that American military operations have significantly weakened the country’s military and nuclear capabilities.
Trump made the statement on Saturday while speaking to reporters at his Florida residence, where he suggested that any remaining targets could be hit within minutes.
He specifically mentioned Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility, as one of the locations that could still require military action. Iran, however, has denied conducting nuclear activities at the site.
The US president said Washington was not in a hurry to launch further attacks, adding that discussions with Tehran over ending the conflict were progressing, although he expressed doubts about Iran’s reliability.
His remarks came as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that any renewed military offensive by the United States or Israel would trigger an immediate and extensive response.
In a statement following a meeting with senior military commanders, Khamenei directed the country’s armed forces to prepare for possible attacks and expand their list of targets to include American and Israeli assets.
The meeting was reportedly his first with senior military officials since he became supreme leader in March, following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes. He has not appeared publicly since before assuming the position.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had not decided whether to authorise further military action, stressing that Washington remained open to a diplomatic resolution.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway responsible for transporting about one-fifth of global oil consumption.
Iran has restricted maritime movement through the strait and threatened further action, including possible disruption of undersea communication cables. Reports of vessels striking mines and other maritime incidents have raised concerns over the safety of international shipping.
The disruption has contributed to rising global energy prices, putting additional pressure on the US administration ahead of the midterm elections.
Diplomatic efforts involving Qatar and Pakistan are continuing, with Qatari mediators arriving in Tehran on Friday. US Vice President JD Vance has also sent a letter to Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei.
Rezaei confirmed receiving the message but said he had yet to respond, describing Washington’s changed tone as a positive development.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were no immediate plans for direct talks with US officials, adding that discussions through mediators were ongoing.
Iran has insisted that restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz will remain until its demands, including the release of frozen assets, are met.
Iranian military officials have warned that any renewed confrontation could extend beyond the current conflict zones, raising concerns about a wider regional war.
