Trump Says US Can Strike Remaining Iran Nuclear Sites in ‘10 Minutes’, Claims Tehran Wants a Deal

November 1, 2026

Washington: US President Donald Trump has said the United States could destroy the remaining Iranian nuclear sites within 10 minutes, while claiming that Tehran wants to negotiate a deal with Washington. His remarks come amid continued diplomatic contacts between the two countries and uncertainty over whether the US will resume military strikes against Iran.

Speaking to reporters during a Halloween event at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Saturday (local time), Trump said American military operations had already severely weakened Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military capabilities.

“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 ten minutes,” Trump said.

Trump said the US was not in a hurry to launch further attacks, arguing that previous military operations had significantly weakened Iran’s navy, air force, air-defence systems and defence manufacturing capabilities. He also claimed that American forces had destroyed much of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Referring to the remaining targets, Trump specifically mentioned the underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, suggesting it could be struck quickly if Washington decided to act. However, he did not announce any fresh military operation or confirm that an order for further strikes had been issued.

Trump says Tehran wants a deal, but questions Iran’s reliability

Despite his warning about the remaining nuclear sites, Trump indicated that Iran was interested in reaching an agreement with Washington. He said negotiations were progressing but expressed doubts about Tehran’s willingness to honour any potential agreement.

“They wanna make a deal, and we will see if they make a deal,” Trump said.

“But they are not very reliable. They make a deal, and then they back out,” he added.

When asked whether he would authorise renewed military strikes against Iran, Trump declined to disclose his intentions, calling the question “stupid”.

“Let’s say I did, would I tell you? I can’t tell you,” he said.

His comments came as diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran continued through direct discussions and intermediaries, even as the US administration weighed its military options.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said diplomatic conversations with Iran had continued without interruption. Speaking after the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Georgia, he confirmed that discussions were taking place both directly and through intermediaries.

“There are multiple talks; talks have actually never stopped,” Rubio said.

He added that Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution if it addressed US security concerns, particularly Iran’s nuclear programme and its support for regional armed groups.

“I’m not gonna characterise either the progress on those talks or any timeframe on it other than to tell you that if there is a diplomatic solution, we would be open to it,” Rubio said.

Rubio also said Trump had not made a decision on further military action, adding that the United States had the capability to achieve its military objectives if required.

Netanyahu call and diplomatic efforts

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the telephone on Saturday as Washington considered potential renewed military action against Iran.

The conversation reportedly followed a meeting earlier in the week in which Trump consulted senior military officials at the White House about possible options for resuming major combat operations.

On the diplomatic front, Iran’s senior security official Mohsen Rezaei said Washington had adopted a “completely shifted tone” in a letter sent by US Vice President JD Vance through Qatari mediators.

Rezaei told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB that the change in tone was a positive indication for Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also described Washington’s attempt to open dialogue as a “positive step”. He said Tehran had examined the letter and that an aide had travelled to Doha for consultations with mediators.

According to The New York Times, the proposal envisaged direct negotiations under Vance’s leadership, with Iran’s nuclear programme forming part of the discussions from the outset. The Wall Street Journal reported that the communication outlined a framework for negotiations rather than specific peace terms.

Khamenei warns US and Israel against fresh attacks

Amid the diplomatic exchanges, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned that any renewed military action by the United States or Israel would trigger an immediate response without geographical limits.

“Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response,” Khamenei said in a statement addressed to senior military commanders.

He also indicated that Iran’s armed forces would determine the timing and conditions for ending any renewed hostilities.

The warning came as tensions remained high, with Washington keeping the possibility of further military action open while diplomatic efforts continued to prevent another escalation.