Pickaxe Mountain

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on 31 Oct that negotiations with Iran are progressing and that Washington is not in a hurry to resume offensive action, citing that most of Iran's military and nuclear capabilities have already been degraded. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been urging Trump to launch a new wave of strikes on Iran immediately after the U.S. midterm elections, seeking to use a renewed conflict to bolster his political position. Qatari mediators continue to work on a framework to de‑escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials warned on Sunday that any renewed war with the United States could last longer than the previous round of fighting. Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said Washington would not control the timing or terms of an end, according to Iranian state television. President Donald Trump said the US still had to deal with one or two sites in Iran and could do so within ten minutes. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Saturday about whether and when to step up combat. Reports say the US is preparing for possible renewed action after the 3 Nov midterm elections, while Trump has said he prefers to keep diplomacy open.

A US envoy says a strike could occur this weekend, while President Trump alternately hints at a possible attack tomorrow, says a decision is pending, and later rules out a Sunday strike, adding that the US monitors Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site and other locations.