US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has destroyed much of Iran's military capabilities, but still needs to "deal with" one or two sites. He made the comments at his Florida residence, suggesting that the US could accomplish this in 10 minutes. Trump did not specify the sites, but mentioned "Jebel Al-Akhbar" in Isfahan province, about 200 km south of Tehran.
The tensions between the US and Iran have been escalating, with Iran vowing to retaliate against any new strikes. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US and Israel against launching new attacks, saying that Iran's military and people would determine the timing and terms of any response. Khamenei issued the warning in a statement on his Telegram channel, saying that Iran would respond strongly and without geographical limits.
The conflict between the US and Iran began in February, with joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran, which Iran responded to with attacks on Gulf states allied with Washington. A ceasefire was reached in April, but the fragile truce collapsed this summer, with Iran insisting on its right to control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane. The US has accused Iran of targeting ships in the strait without permission.
The Iranian military reported on Saturday that an oil tanker had caught fire after hitting a mine, while the US said it had removed most mines from the area. Trump said that negotiations with Iran to end the war were going well, but that Iran was not entirely trustworthy. He emphasized that the US was not in a hurry to take offensive action, having already inflicted significant damage on Iran's military and nuclear program.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that Trump had not made a decision on new strikes against Iran, and that the US was open to a diplomatic solution. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran did not see a need to meet with the US side, given current circumstances. Araghchi's comments were reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA.
The conflict has sparked concerns among the Iranian public, with many worrying about the possibility of a wider war. Some residents of Tehran expressed anxiety about the situation, while others were more sanguine. One resident, Ibrahim, 48, said that he was not worried about another war, saying that Iran had been in a state of war for 48 years.
The situation remains volatile, with Iran warning that it could target communication cables in the Strait of Hormuz. The US and Iran have been engaged in indirect talks, mediated by Qatar, but a resolution to the conflict remains elusive.
Key points
- Trump threatens Iran with new strikes, says US has destroyed much of Iran's military capabilities
- Iran vows to retaliate against any new US strikes
- US and Iran engaged in indirect talks, mediated by Qatar, but a resolution to the conflict remains elusive
