Netanyahu Urges Trump to Strike Iran After Midterms, Axios Reports

Diplomacy and Military Warnings

Trump told journalists on Saturday that negotiations with Tehran were "going fine," but added that Washington still needed to eliminate some Iranian nuclear sites, claiming "we can do that in 10 minutes" and pointing specifically to Pickaxe Mountain.

Last week, US Vice President J.D. Vance sent a letter to Iranian national security chief Mohsen Rezaei offering to restart talks that had remained stalled for several months. On Sunday, Iranian negotiators left Doha after three days of exchanging messages with American officials through Qatari mediators.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the discussions centered on a seven-step plan Tehran proposed in September, with the possibility of accelerated implementation if a deal is reached. Tehran's terms require an end to the US naval blockade and respect for Iran's demands before any final agreement or reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Official Statements and Military Readiness

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the military to prepare for "an immediate and effective response, without geographical restriction" if the Islamic Republic is attacked again, according to a statement released by his office on Saturday.

Trump has repeatedly warned he could strike Iran if Tehran fails to meet his peace terms. Those threats come despite a September warning from the Pentagon inspector-general that heavy weapons expenditure in the Middle East conflict "has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply."

According to the Wall Street Journal, Tehran's missile and drone strikes have also inflicted up to $15 billion in damage to US bases in the region.

What Lies Ahead

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting in St. Petersburg last month that Moscow remains ready to facilitate a settlement between Washington and Tehran. Putin stressed that "the possibilities for diplomacy are far from being exhausted" and that reaching an agreement with Tehran is both possible and necessary.

As of now, no final decision on a new US strike against Iran has been confirmed, and the diplomatic channel through Qatari mediators remains active. Further clarity is expected following Tuesday's midterm election.