US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington still has one or two Iranian targets to deal with, despite claiming that American strikes have largely crippled Iran's military and nuclear capabilities, as Tehran threatened widespread retaliation against any renewed offensive.
Trump said on Oct 31 that negotiations to end the war, which began with US and Israeli strikes in February, were progressing but described Iran as an unreliable negotiating partner.
He maintained that Washington was in no hurry to resume offensive operations, insisting that much of Iran's military capabilities and nuclear programme had already been destroyed.
"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," AFP reported him saying at his Florida residence.
He specifically referred to Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility, saying it remained among the sites that could be targeted.
Iran has denied conducting nuclear activities at the location.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had yet to decide whether to launch further strikes against Iran, adding that Washington remained open to a diplomatic solution.
However, Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a fresh warning against renewed military action by the United States and Israel, following threats that hostilities could resume after key elections in both countries.
"Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response," he told senior military commanders, according to a statement.
Khamenei also instructed commanders to update Iran's target list to include all tangible and intangible assets belonging to the United States and Israel.
The meeting was reportedly his first with senior military commanders since taking power in March following the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli strikes.
The escalating tensions have also heightened concerns over global energy supplies, with Iran restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that normally handles about one-fifth of global oil consumption.
Iranian state television reported on Oct 31 that a vessel travelling through the strait had struck a mine and caught fire.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had also said a day earlier that three oil tankers were halted after encountering unspecified incidents or striking mines.
The restrictions have driven up global energy prices, adding to domestic pressure on Trump ahead of the US midterm elections.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts involving Qatar and Pakistan are continuing to prevent a return to fighting.
Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran on Oct 30, while US Vice-President JD Vance sent a letter to Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei.
Rezaei confirmed receiving the letter, saying Washington's tone had changed significantly, which he described as a positive sign.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were currently no plans for direct meetings with US officials, adding that Tehran's conditions were being discussed through mediators.
Rezaei also maintained that Iran would continue restricting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz until its demands, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, were met.
Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned that any renewed hostilities would extend the conflict beyond its current geographical boundaries.
"The flames of war will undoubtedly engulf a much wider geographical area," he said.
Araghchi also warned on social media platform X that there would no longer be any "red lines". - November 1, 2026
