United States President Donald Trump has claimed that the US had âknocked outâ Iran's nuclear sites, adding that the remaining ones can be struck within â10 minutes.âPrevious US and Iranian negotiations, mediated by other countries, have been marred by distrust (AP/ Handout via Reuters)Speaking to reporters while attending a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago, Trump said, âWe'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.âThis came even as Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of an immediate response to any âkind or level of threatâ from America in the future, saying it would be one without âgeographical limitsâ.
Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly since the war began in February this year, reportedly made these remarks in a meeting with military chiefs. The Iranian Supreme Leader also called for an updated list of potential US and Israeli targets, Iran's state media reported.Trump says Iran ânot reliableâ: âThey make a deal, then they back outâWhen asked whether the US would âgo back to war against Iran as soon as this weekâ, Trump said it was a âstupid question.â âLet's say I did â would I tell you?â he replied.The US President reiterated that Iran would ânever have a nuclear weaponâ, while claiming that Tehran âwants to make a dealâ.
However, Trump said that Iran was ânot very reliableâ, adding, âThey make a deal and then they back out.â In the past, the US and Iranian negotiations, which have been mediated by multiple countries including Pakistan, Qatar and Oman, have been marred with distrust. Both sides have acknowledged their lack of trust in the other.US and Iran had agreed to a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU) and ceasefire extension framework in June, it quickly unravelled over sticking points, including navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program.US tone in Vance letter âcompletely shiftedâ, âgood signâ: IranWhile Trump has maintained that Tehran is seeking talks, Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei has termed US Vice President JD Vance's recent letter as a âvictory.â Vance's letter was delivered to Rezaei, who is the head of Iranâs Supreme National Security Council.âTheir tone has shifted completely, which is a good sign that shows that our people have secured their victory,â the Iranian security chief told state broadcaster IRIB.
However, Rezaei told state television that he hasn't responded to the letter from Vance, and did not elaborate on the details of the communication.The letter allegedly proposes direct talks with Iran under Vance's leadership, with the Iranian nuclear program being a part of discussions from the beginning, the New York Times reported.A Wall Street Journal report citing a source said the letter had outlined a âframework for negotiationsâ, adding that it was sent out at US President Donald Trump's directive. Trump has publicly maintained that Iran is seeking negotiations.
Following Vance's letter, a meeting between Iran and US officials can now be held within a week in Doha or Istanbul, Al Jazeera had earlier reported citing sources.The conflict began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February earlier this year, and killed Iran's former Supreme Leader and Mojtaba's father, Ali Khamenei. Tehran retaliated with attacks on US interests and bases in Gulf countries, and effectively blocked navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

