- BIST10010,760-3.64%
- USD49.86+0.15%
- EUR55.82+0.52%
- GOLD3,898.90-3.29%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN77,925+0.63%
- November 1, 20265°
- BIST10010,760-3.64%
- USD49.86+0.15%
- EUR55.82+0.52%
- GOLD3,898.90-3.29%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN77,925+0.63%
- November 1, 20265°
Trump says US can hit Iran's remaining sites 'in 10 minutes'
Speaking to reporters at a Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night, President Donald Trump named Pickaxe Mountain as a possible target, called a New York Times question about returning to war 'stupid' and said he would have 'no problem' inviting Zelenskyy to the G20.
President Donald Trump said Saturday night that the United States could take care of the "one or two" Iranian sites still on its list "in 10 minutes," as his administration weighs whether to resume strikes on Iran after Tuesday's midterm elections.
Trump took questions from reporters on Oct. 31 at a Halloween party at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida,, among costumed guests. He joked that he "only had 10 minutes" to get ready, so he "came as Donald Trump," then fielded questions on Iran, Ukraine, the G20 and El Salvador's mission in Haiti.
Iran: 'One or two sites'
Asked about a time frame for the Qatari-mediated talks with Tehran, Trump said Washington was in no rush.
"We're not in that much of a hurry from the standpoint that we've knocked out their navy. We've knocked out their air force. We've knocked out their anti-aircraft," he said. "We still have to take care of, I would say, one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes. Ten minutes. So we have that plan."
He named one possible target: "You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quick." Pickaxe Mountain is a suspected underground nuclear complex next to Iran's Natanz enrichment site. The United States has not struck it during the war, and Iran denies nuclear work there.
Trump repeated that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon but questioned whether Tehran would keep a deal: "They're going fine, but, you know, they're not very reliable, I will tell you. They make a deal and then they back out. They want to make a deal. We'll see if they make a deal."
'Why would you ask such a stupid question?'
When a New York Times reporter asked whether he expected to go back to war against Iran as soon as this week, Trump snapped: "Why would you ask such a stupid question? New York Times." Then he added: "Okay, let's say I did. Would I tell you?"
Repeating the question to himself, he went on: "Let's say I didn't. Would I tell you? I can't tell you."
The United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28. After nearly 40 days of intense fighting, Washington shifted to economic pressure, including a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has said any new strikes would wait until after the Nov. 3 elections. In an Oct. 25 interview with Fox News, he framed the choice this way: "Do I make a deal with them, or do I finish them off?"
U.S. officials have privately told regional partners to prepare for possible renewed strikes after the vote, The Associated Press reported, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking the same day at a G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, said Trump "hasn't made a decision" and prefers a diplomatic solution. Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has ordered an immediate response to any new attack.
Ukraine and the G20: 'I would. No problem.'
A reporter noted that Ukraine had hit a couple of big Russian refineries in the previous day or two and asked for Trump's take. "We talked to them. I think that the war between Ukraine and Russia is going to come to an end in the not-too-distant future," he said.
Earlier, in an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Trump said the sides were getting "very close" to a deal. Zelenskyy has said he is ready to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in a three-way meeting with Trump, but no such meeting has been scheduled.
Another reporter pointed out that Trump had invited Putin to the G20 and asked whether he would also invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump's answer was brief: "I would. No problem."
The United States holds the G20 presidency this year, and the leaders' summit is scheduled for Dec. 14-15 at Trump National Doral near Miami. Rubio announced Putin's invitation in September on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, and the Kremlin has not confirmed whether Putin will attend. On Saturday, Rubio said he spoke briefly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Atlanta about a possible Trump-Putin encounter at this month's APEC summit in Shenzhen, China.
El Salvador and Haiti: 'They killed some of his people'
Trump confirmed that he had spoken with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele about Haiti, where El Salvador has sent troops to search for four of its soldiers. "I did speak to him. He said that he has a big problem with Haiti. I said, look, you're running your country. You have to do what you have to do," Trump said. "He had a big problem with Haiti. They killed some of his people."
Asked whether the United States was considering helping in any capacity, Trump said: "He doesn't need help. He's in pretty good shape."
The four Salvadoran soldiers, aviation technicians serving with the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force, went missing after gangs ambushed their armored vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince, on Oct. 18. Bukele first sent special forces to help find them and later announced a deployment of about 2,000 troops, saying El Salvador would cover most of the cost. Reuters reported on Oct. 28 that the four were still missing, and Bukele has rejected reports that remains found near Port-au-Prince belong to them.
Cover photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin.
Stay Updated with Ally Daily
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
