Middle East conflict: Trump says US still has to 'take care' of one or two targets in Iran

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has knocked out much of Iran's military but it still has to "take care of" one or two targets including a suspected nuclear site known as Pickaxe Mountain.

Trump maintained that negotiations with Iran to end the war that the US and Israel began at the end of February were "going fine but you know they're not very reliable."

The US president reiterated that the US was not in a hurry to take offensive action because it had decimated Iran's military and nuclear program.

"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," Trump told reporters at his Florida residence.

"You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that. We can do that all very quickly," he added, referring to a suspected underground nuclear complex.

The Iranian government has denied any nuclear work is carried out there.

After a week dominated by warnings of imminent US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has signalled an unexpected shift in the diplomatic atmosphere, acknowledging a major change in Washington’s approach as intensive mediation raises cautious hopes of averting another round of war.

Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei said on Saturday that the tone of a letter from US Vice President JD Vance had “changed completely”, describing it as a positive development.

The remarks were reinforced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who welcomed Washington’s latest attempt to reopen dialogue, even as Tehran maintained that it was not yet ready for direct negotiations with American officials.

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Iran's supreme leader warned the United States and Israel Saturday of fresh attacks following their threats to resume strikes after crucial elections, as fears increased over a return to fighting.

President Donald Trump suggested he could launch fresh military action after the United States holds its midterm elections early next week.

But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday: "If there is a diplomatic solution, we would be open to it."

In Israel, which is coming off a general election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of a "historic, one-time opportunity" to topple the Iranian government.

The elections in both countries could determine the direction of the conflict, with Israel having voted on Tuesday but yet to form a new government.

"Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response," Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei told top military commanders, according to a statement.

Khamenei also ordered commanders to update Iran's target list to include "all types of tangible and intangible assets belonging to the American-Zionist enemy".

Iran has previously warned it would consider severing undersea cables in the Strait of Hormuz.

This was the first reported meeting between Khamenei and military top brass.

The supreme leader has not been seen publicly since before he took the helm in March, after the killing of his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned the United States and Israel against launching fresh attacks, threatening an immediate military response as concerns grow over a possible return to war.

The warning comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump has yet to decide whether to order further strikes on Iran. Tehran, meanwhile, has ruled out immediate direct talks with Washington, despite ongoing mediation efforts involving Qatar and Pakistan.

With both sides maintaining their positions, regional leaders are urging restraint as uncertainty grows over what could happen after the US midterm elections.

Will the US launch fresh strikes on Iran?

Iran's strikes on more than two dozen US bases in the Middle East focused on early-warning systems before hitting aircraft and buildings, causing billions of dollars in equipment damage, according to an Associated Press analysis.

The AP independently verified damage to American targets using satellite imagery from multiple providers and spoke to four regional officials who were briefed or have firsthand knowledge of what was hit. The AP found that, through August, more than 115 drone or missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with US equipment.

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Day 245: Rubio says US yet to decide on new Iran strikes

Day 244: US denies Iran destroyed sea drone in Strait of Hormuz

Day 243: US fires senior army general in latest ouster: reports

Day 242: Iran discusses plan to end war and reopen Hormuz

Day 241: Iran says supreme leader met with security chief

Day 240: 'Entering new path could be considered': Iran tells US