Trump says Iran’s last nuclear sites could be hit ‘in ten minutes’ — and he spoke to Netanyahu on Saturday
US President Donald Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone on Saturday, 31 October, as Washington weighed new strikes on Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the conversation. It followed a White House meeting earlier in the week on military options. Neither government has confirmed the call.
Hours later, at a Halloween event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said American operations had crippled Iran’s nuclear programme and military, leaving only one or two targets standing. “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,” he said, naming Pickaxe Mountain.
Trump said Tehran wanted a deal but doubted its reliability. “They wanna make a deal, and we will see if they make a deal,” he said. Asked if he would order renewed strikes, he refused to answer: “Let’s say I did, would I tell you? I can’t tell you.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks with Iran had never stopped and Trump had not yet decided on military action. “There are multiple talks; talks have actually never stopped,” he said. “He hasn’t made a decision.” The Jerusalem Post reported the US and Israel were preparing for possible renewed strikes, but the White House was not expected to order them before the midterms on Tuesday, 3 November, unless it detected a surprise attack in preparation.
Tehran is still open to talking: security chief Mohsen Rezaei said the tone of a letter from US Vice President JD Vance had “completely shifted”. But Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned any new attack would draw a “geographically unrestricted” response.
Why it matters
Washington is sending two messages: a president boasting the last targets could be destroyed in minutes, and a secretary of state insisting talks have never stopped and no decision has been taken. For Pakistan, mediating between the two, the stakes are direct: a deal would ease pressure on Gulf shipping and fuel prices; new strikes after the midterms would do the opposite.
What happens next
The marker is Tuesday’s midterm vote, 3 November. Strikes are unlikely before then unless the US detects preparations for a surprise attack. Watch for whether Tehran answers the Vance letter.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.newkerala.com/news/a/trump-says-remaining-iran-nuclear-sites-can-hit-669.htm (ANI via New Kerala, 1 November 2026)
- https://www.7globe.in/donald-trump-donald-trump-speaks-to-benjamin-netanyahu-as-us-weighs-fresh-military-strikes-on-iran-report/ (7Globe, 1 November 2026)
