US President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of new strikes on Iran, saying Washington may still need to address one or two facilities and naming a suspected nuclear complex at a mountain south of Tehran. The comments came amid speculation about renewed military action after the US midterms, following the end of Israel's elections.
Trump said the United States had "eliminated" Iran's nuclear program but that one or two sites remained, adding that this could be handled in ten minutes. He specifically referred to Mount Kolang, known as Pickaxe Mountain, which he has cited before as a target. The mountain lies in Isfahan province, about 200 kilometers south of Tehran and near the Natanz nuclear facility. Iran's government denies that nuclear work is taking place there.
Trump also said the US was not in a hurry for further attacks and that talks on ending the Iran war were going well, though he described the Iranians as not very reliable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said earlier that Trump had not yet decided on new strikes and that Washington was open to a diplomatic solution.
Iranian officials responded with threats of retaliation. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of an immediate, effective and geographically unrestricted response. Army spokesman Mohammed Akraminia said on Sunday that a possible future war could last longer than the previous conflict and that Trump would not be able to dictate its timing or conditions. Defense Minister Mehrdad Achlaghi said Iran would give a proportionate, determined and effective answer to any attack, according to state television, and that those making threats would not set the extent, timing or consequences of Iran's defensive reaction.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no meetings with US representatives were currently planned, but consultations through mediators were continuing. He officially confirmed for the first time that Tehran's leadership had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the letter focused more on a possible negotiating framework than on details of a peace proposal.
Diplomatic efforts to prevent another escalation are ongoing. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, said at a conference in Manama, Bahrain, that he hoped for a diplomatic breakthrough but that the UAE was also prepared for the worst.
The Iran war began in late February with attacks by the United States and Israel. Diplomatic efforts stalled after an agreement failed in June. In the Persian Gulf, the liquefied gas tanker Al Mayeda, owned by Qatar's state gas transport company, was hit by unknown projectiles, according to Qatar's state news agency. No crew member was injured. Since the war began, Tehran has largely blocked the Strait of Hormuz and regularly attacked ships there, while the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Sources: Der Spiegel.