President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that the U.S. military still had to “take care of” several targets in Iran before the conflict could end, as Iran warned of severe reprisals against the U.S. should it carry out strikes on Iranian territory again.
Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said, “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.”
An F/A-18C Hornet, assigned to the “Stingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron 113, transits over the haze of southern Afghanistan. VFA 113, part of Carrier Air Wing 14 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The mission of CVW 14 is to protect the people of Afghanistan and to support coalition forces. Ronald Reagan is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations are focused on reassuring regional partners of the United States’ commitment to security, which promotes stability and global prosperity.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, performs an aerial demonstration over Rickenbacker International Airport, Ohio, June 16, 2024, as part of the Columbus Air Show. This year’s event featured more than 20 military and civilian planes, including a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, which served as the base of operations for military aircraft participating in the show. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ivy Thomas)
Elaborating on which targets could be hit, the president added, “You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly.”
Trump Reportedly Considering Nuclear Strike Against Iran
Former Trump ally Tucker Carlson warned on Sunday that the president was considering the use of a nuclear weapon against Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain “under pressure” from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The Trump administration may be within days of launching a nuclear strike on Iran,” claimed Carlson, citing an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation, and claiming that the president was currently being both encouraged and warned against carrying out a nuclear attack by members of his administration.
Carlson reported that Trump would be likely to decide one way or the other by next weekend, November 7, and that he was currently “hesitating” and “listening” to Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who insist that a deal for peace can still be made.
No country has used a nuclear weapon in war since the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. A U.S. nuclear strike against Iran would likely spur other nuclear-armed nations, including Russia, to start using their own weapons in conflict.
“An American nuclear attack on Iran would set a new precedent,” warned Carlson on Sunday. “The Russians have already told at least two other governments that an American nuclear strike on Iran would free them to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Pakistan and India would be tempted to do the same against each other, as would North Korea against Seoul.”
He concluded, “After the first nuclear strike, World War Three is inevitable. That war would be short and final.”
Iran Says “the Ball” For Peace is in Trump’s “Court”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared on Monday that “the ball” for a peace deal — and the subsequent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — was in the Trump administration’s “court.”
“The ball is in the U.S. court, since our demands have been stated quite clearly,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei. “No final deal can be concluded, and the Strait of Hormuz cannot be reopened in a safe state unless the naval blockade is lifted and Iran’s demands are met.”
Iran also warned that any new U.S. strikes against its territory would be met with a response without “geographic limits” — potentially opening up the U.S. and Israel to direct attacks, but particularly their overseas assets.
Trump’s War Has Made Him the Most Unpopular President Since 1946
Despite Trump’s assurances that the conflict would last just four to six weeks after his administration launched strikes against Iran earlier this year, the war is now into its eighth month.
A New York Times poll found last month that Trump’s popularity had cratered since the onset of his war against Iran, dropping to just 34% — the lowest pre-midterm approval rating of any U.S. president, including Joe Biden, since 1946.
The poll also found that a majority of voters now trusted the Democratic Party more than Republicans on several key issues, including the economy, lowering fuel prices, and ending foreign conflicts.
With Midterm Elections Out of the Way, Trump Will No Longer Need to Restrain Himself
The drop in approval rating — which was sparked largely by the economic effects of the war at home, including a rise in fuel prices — has prompted Trump to abstain from making further attacks against Iran until after the midterm elections this week.
However, once the elections are out of the way, and Trump is no longer burdened by approval ratings or polls, the White House will be free to continue with strikes against Iran without that restraint.
About the Author: Charlie Nash
Charlie Nash is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Spectator, Mediaite, New Statesman, and the American Conservative, among other major publications. His reporting has been featured by The Washington Post, Fox News, the Daily Beast, MS NOW, NewsNation, Hannity, and more. You can follow Charlie on X at @CharlieNash and on LinkedIn.
