President Donald Trump warned Saturday that the United States could destroy Iran’s remaining nuclear facilities in just ten minutes, as reports emerged that Washington and Israel are preparing for possible renewed military strikes following the November 3 U.S. midterm elections.

Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump declared that American forces had largely eliminated Iran’s nuclear capabilities but acknowledged that additional targets remained.

“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.”President Donald Trump, Mar-a-Lago, Florida

The president specifically mentioned Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear complex that Western intelligence believes may contain nuclear material. Tehran denies conducting nuclear activities at the facility.

Trump maintained that negotiations with Iran were progressing but questioned Tehran’s reliability, reiterating that Iran would never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Iran Threatens Retaliation Without Geographic Limits

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a stark warning Saturday, ordering military commanders to prepare an immediate response to any renewed American or Israeli attack, without geographical restrictions.

According to a statement attributed to Khamenei, Iran’s armed forces must respond to any threat with an “immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response.”

The Iranian leader also reportedly instructed military commanders to update their target lists to include American and Israeli military, economic, and other strategic assets.

Reports Point to Possible November 4 Strikes

The escalating rhetoric comes amid reports that Washington has warned Gulf allies to prepare for possible American strikes against Iran as early as November 4, immediately following the U.S. midterm elections.

According to a report citing three senior Gulf Arab officials, the anticipated operation could be brief but intense, with regional governments urging Washington to pursue diplomatic alternatives amid fears of widespread Iranian retaliation.

Separate reporting indicates that American and Israeli military planners have developed options for renewed attacks targeting Iran’s remaining nuclear infrastructure.

The timing is particularly sensitive following Israel’s October 27 election, which failed to produce a clear governing majority, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leading a caretaker government while coalition negotiations continue.

Despite the mounting speculation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that Trump had not made a final decision on renewed strikes and that Washington remained open to diplomacy.

For now, the possibility of another military confrontation remains unresolved. But with Iran threatening retaliation beyond its borders and Washington openly discussing unfinished nuclear targets, the days immediately following the American elections could prove decisive for the Middle East.