Trump Says U.S. Must Still 'Take Care Of' One or Two Iran Sites, Names Pickaxe Mountain; Khamenei Orders 'Unrestricted' Response to Any Attack
Trump rejected Tehran's seven-day plan on Sept. 26. Speaking Saturday, he said talks are 'going fine' but Iran is 'not very reliable,' while Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha.
"One or two sites" and ten minutes
On Saturday, Oct. 31, President Donald Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that the U.S. still has work to do in Iran. "We still have to take care of, I would say, one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes," he said[1][2]. He named one of them: Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear complex near Iran's Natanz enrichment site[1][2].
In the same remarks, Trump said talks with Iran are "going fine." He also called Tehran "not very reliable." "They make a deal, and then they back out," he said[2].
Those two messages sit side by side. One shows capability. The other describes diplomacy that is still alive. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added a third: Trump "hasn't made a decision" on resuming strikes, has set no deadline, and prefers a diplomatic deal[4].
Tehran answers in writing
Iran's reply came from the top. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei told military commanders to meet "any level or type of threat" with an "immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response"[5][6]. He also ordered them to update their target list to cover U.S. and Israeli assets[6].
An army spokesman added that a renewed U.S. attack would make the war "engulf a wider geography"[7]. Gulf outlets noted that Gulf states sit inside that range.
Khamenei hasn't been seen in public since before he took over in March. His father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes[8]. A written order lets the new leader project resolve without appearing.
Diplomacy kept moving at the same time. Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday, according to Reuters as reported by CBS[3]. Iran's foreign minister said there were no plans to talk directly with the United States[3]. A senior Iranian official said there will be no nuclear talks or Hormuz reopening until the U.S. accepts Iran's demands[20].
A rejection five weeks old
Some summaries say Trump spoke "a day after" rejecting Iran's seven-day plan. That's wrong. He rejected it on Saturday, Sept. 26, five weeks earlier. His words then were "I reject their proposal"[9][10][11].
The plan asked the U.S. to release frozen funds, lift oil sanctions and end its naval blockade. In return, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Talks on a final deal would start by day seven[9][11].
At the time, Trump said he was considering new strikes after the Nov. 3 midterm elections[11]. Those elections are now two days away. Recycling the old rejection as fresh news makes events look faster than they are.
The site nobody can inspect
Pickaxe Mountain is a tunnel complex being dug about a mile south of Natanz, under hard rock. Fox News reports it is deeper and better protected than earlier sites[14][24]. A September CSIS satellite-image review found more road activity there in 2026 than at any earlier point in the site's history[13].
The key question is what's inside. Centrifuges are fast-spinning machines that enrich uranium. Low enrichment fuels power reactors. Very high enrichment is what a bomb needs. So where the centrifuges sit matters more than the tunnels themselves.
Satellites can show trucks, roads and spoil piles. They can't show what's inside. Only inspectors on the ground can confirm that, and the IAEA has never been let in[12][14]. Israeli and U.S. officials say thousands of centrifuges were moved there[15][16]. Iran denies any nuclear activity at the site[1]. No outside party has confirmed either account.
Why each side holds its ground
The Trump administration's strongest case is that pressure and diplomacy are one strategy. The naval blockade cuts Iran's oil income. Washington won't lift it until Iran accepts U.S. terms, betting the strain will force a deal[9][11]. Trump said in September that Iran wanted a deal "because they're losing so badly"[11]. Officials add that a site no one can inspect can't be left alone, and that past deals collapsed. Their stated principle is that Iran "will never have a nuclear weapon"[2].
Israel makes a related argument. A site inspectors have never entered, and that is still being dug, could let Iran rebuild out of sight[12][13]. In that view, the risk of waiting outweighs the risk of striking. Türkiye Today reported that Israel is preparing for renewed strikes[22]. Khamenei named "Zionist" assets as targets, so Israel would face retaliation in any new round[6].
Iran's strongest case is sovereignty and deterrence. It was attacked, and its previous supreme leader was killed[8]. It argues it can't negotiate under threat of bombing without showing that attacks carry a cost. That is the logic of the "geographically unrestricted" order[5][6]. It also calls the blockade economic war, and its seven-day plan offered a fast exchange: lift the blockade and sanctions, and Hormuz reopens[9][11].
The sequencing is the trap. Washington wants Iran to move first. Iran wants relief first, then Hormuz, then talks[9][11]. Each side fears giving up its lever and getting nothing back. For Tehran, opening Pickaxe Mountain to inspectors without relief means surrendering its last leverage while bombs stay on the table[20].
Qatar and the Gulf states have the most direct exposure. Their oil and gas exports, airports and cities sit inside any "unrestricted" reply[5]. Doha hosts Iranian negotiators to keep a channel open[3]. A deal is cheaper for them than another round of war.
Same remarks, different headlines
Reuters ran the remarks straight and quote-led, including Iran's denial[1]. Fox News headlined that Trump threatened Pickaxe Mountain "over centrifuges." That presents as settled a claim that comes from officials and that inspectors haven't confirmed[16]. Fox's live blog led more cautiously, with Rubio saying no choice had been made[4].
CBS led with Trump suggesting more attacks "after Ayatollah warns against resuming war." That order casts Washington as the escalator, though "suggests" fits his offhand wording[3]. The Sunday Guardian's "Threatens More Strikes" goes further than what he said. Gulf News's "Signals US Prepared for Swift Action" reads intent into a remark Rubio said was not a decision. Kurdistan24 and other regional outlets gave Khamenei's order equal or greater weight than Trump's words[5].
I found no New York Times, Washington Post or Guardian story on the Oct. 31 remarks. The "force drawdown" in some internal framings of this story appears in no source I found.
What happens next is open. No strike decision has been announced[4]. Talks run only through Qatar. The midterms come Tuesday, and Trump has tied possible new strikes to the period after them[11]. Pickaxe Mountain remains uninspected.
Summary
President Donald Trump said Saturday, Oct. 31, that the United States still has to 'take care of' one or two Iranian sites. 'We can do that in 10 minutes,' he told reporters at a Halloween event at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida[1][2]. He named Pickaxe Mountain. It is a suspected underground nuclear complex next to Iran's Natanz enrichment site[1][2]. Trump said talks with Iran are 'going fine' but called Tehran 'not very reliable.' 'They make a deal, and then they back out,' he said[2]. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump 'hasn't made a decision' on resuming strikes, has set no deadline, and prefers a diplomatic deal[4].
Iran's answer came from the top. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered commanders to meet 'any level or type of threat' with an 'immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response'[5][6]. He also told them to update their target list to cover U.S. and Israeli assets[6]. An army spokesman warned that a renewed U.S. attack would make war 'engulf a wider geography'[7]. Meanwhile, Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday, according to Reuters as reported by CBS[3]. Iran's foreign minister said there were no plans to talk directly with the United States[3].
One detail needs correcting. Some summaries say Trump spoke 'a day after' rejecting Iran's seven-day plan. In fact, he rejected that plan on Saturday, Sept. 26, five weeks earlier[9][10][11]. The plan asked the U.S. to release frozen funds, lift oil sanctions and end its naval blockade. In return, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and talks on a final deal would start by day seven[9][11]. At the time, Trump said he was considering new strikes after the Nov. 3 midterm elections[11]. Those elections are now two days away.
The core dispute is Pickaxe Mountain itself. Washington and Israel treat it as a hidden site that must be dealt with. Israeli and U.S. officials say thousands of centrifuges were moved there[15][16]. Iran denies any nuclear activity at the site[1]. Because inspectors have never been inside, no outside party can confirm what it holds[12][14].
The Event
On Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Mar-a-Lago, Trump told reporters that the U.S. still had 'one or two sites' in Iran to 'take care of.' He named Pickaxe Mountain[1][2]. Rubio said the same day that Trump had not decided whether to resume strikes[4]. Earlier Saturday, Iran's supreme leader had ordered an 'immediate' and 'geographically unrestricted' response to any new attack[3][5]. Iranian negotiators were in Doha for talks with Qatari mediators[3].
Undisputed Facts
- Trump said on Oct. 31: 'We still have to take care of, I would say, one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes'[1][2].
- Trump named Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground complex near Natanz, as a site that must be addressed[1][2].
- Rubio said Trump 'hasn't made a decision' on resuming strikes and has set no deadline for talks[4].
- Mojtaba Khamenei directed Iran's military to answer any threat with an 'immediate, impactful and geographically unrestricted response' and to update its target list[5][6].
- Khamenei has not been seen in public since before he took over in March, after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes[8].
- Trump publicly rejected Iran's seven-day proposal on Sept. 26, 2026, saying 'I reject their proposal'[9][10][11].
- International inspectors have never been given access to Pickaxe Mountain, and the IAEA has asked Iran about it[12][14].
- A September CSIS satellite-image review found more road activity at Pickaxe Mountain in 2026 than at any earlier point in the site's history[13].
The Pressure
Strip away the moralizing and blame. What structural realities persist regardless of which narrative wins?
- The verification gap at Pickaxe Mountain
- Pickaxe Mountain is a tunnel complex being dug about a mile south of Natanz under hard rock. Fox News reports it is deeper and better protected than earlier sites[14][24]. Centrifuges are the fast-spinning machines that enrich uranium. Low enrichment fuels power reactors, and very high enrichment is what a bomb needs, so where centrifuges sit matters more than the tunnels themselves. Satellites can show trucks, roads and spoil piles. They cannot show what is inside[12][13]. Only inspectors on the ground can confirm whether centrifuges or uranium are there, and the IAEA has never been let in[12][14]. This gap drives both sides' logic. To Washington and Israel, a site no one can check is a site that must be removed[15][16]. To Tehran, which denies any nuclear activity there, letting inspectors in, or giving up the site, without relief first means surrendering its last leverage while bombs stay on the table[20].
- Blockade versus sequencing
- The U.S. Navy is blocking ships to and from Iranian ports, which squeezes Iran's oil income[9][11]. Iran's offer reverses the order Washington wants. Iran wants relief first, then Hormuz reopens, then talks[9][11]. Each side fears the same thing: giving up its lever first and getting nothing back.
- Election timing
- In September, Trump tied possible new strikes to the period after the Nov. 3 midterms[11][21]. That makes the coming week a period of uncertainty, whatever any official says.
- Deterrence credibility
- Iran's new supreme leader has not appeared in public since March[8]. A sweeping, written retaliation order shows resolve without requiring him to appear[5][6].
Material realityU.S. officials say much of Iran's nuclear and military capacity has already been destroyed. Pickaxe Mountain was not destroyed. Construction there was more active in 2026 than ever before, by CSIS's count[1][13]. The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in place, and the Strait of Hormuz is still disrupted[9][11][20]. Iran's armed forces are under orders to answer any attack across the region[5][6]. Talks are running only through Qatari mediators, and Iran says it has no plans for direct talks with the U.S.[3]. No decision on strikes has been announced[4].
Narrative as a weaponTrump's remarks pair a show of capability ('10 minutes') with a description of talks as 'fine', and Rubio says no decision has been made. One reading is that this leaves the timing open, for Tehran and for voters before Tuesday. Iran's leadership, for its part, is warning that any new strike would reach beyond Iran, a message that Gulf capitals such as Doha and Riyadh are likely to hear as well. Israeli officials and some allied outlets cite the centrifuge claim as the reason Pickaxe Mountain is urgent; it is unconfirmed by inspectors. Some summaries of this story recycle Trump's Sept. 26 rejection as if it happened the day before, which makes events look faster than they are. The 'force drawdown' in some desk framings appears in no source found.
How Each Side Sees It
Each major actor’s view — how it frames things, its underlying incentive, and how it’s materially affected. Tap a side to read it.
Frames it asIts strongest case is that pressure plus diplomacy is one strategy, not two. The naval blockade cuts Iran's oil income. Washington has refused to lift it until Iran agrees to U.S. terms, betting the economic strain will force a deal[9][11]. In this view, Iran's offer to reopen Hormuz quickly proves the pressure is working. Trump said in September that Iran wanted a deal 'because they're losing so badly'[11]. Officials argue that a site nobody can inspect cannot be left alone. Their principle: Iran 'will never have a nuclear weapon'[2]. And because past deals collapsed, they say Iranian promises cannot replace removing the capability ('They make a deal, and then they back out')[2].
WhyWin a nuclear and Hormuz deal on U.S. terms. Keep a credible strike threat as leverage. Avoid both a forever war and the look of backing down. Rubio stressed that Trump prefers diplomacy[4].
Impact on themThe midterms are Nov. 3. Trump has tied possible new strikes to the period after the vote[11]. Renewed war risks the 'unrestricted' Iranian retaliation Khamenei has ordered against U.S. assets in the region[5][6].
Frames it asIts strongest case is sovereignty and deterrence. Iran was attacked, and its previous supreme leader was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes[8]. So it argues it cannot negotiate under the threat of bombing without showing that attacks carry a cost. That is the logic behind the 'geographically unrestricted' order[5][6]. It also argues the blockade is economic war. Its seven-day plan offered a concrete, fast exchange: lift the blockade and sanctions, and Hormuz reopens[9][11]. A senior official said there will be no nuclear talks or Hormuz reopening until the U.S. accepts Iran's demands[20]. Iran denies any nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain[1].
WhyGet sanctions relief, frozen funds and an end to the blockade. Keep its remaining nuclear leverage. Deter a second round of strikes. Preserve the regime under a new and unseen leader[8].
Impact on themUnder the blockade, Iran's oil revenue is choked[9][11]. Any new strikes would target what remains of its nuclear program. Retaliation that spreads to U.S. bases or Gulf states would invite more strikes.
Frames it asIts strongest case is that depth plus secrecy equals danger. Israeli and U.S. officials say thousands of centrifuges were moved deep inside Pickaxe Mountain[15]. A site that inspectors have never entered, and that is still being dug, could let Iran rebuild out of sight[12][13]. In Israel's view, the risk of waiting outweighs the risk of striking.
WhyMake sure Iran's enrichment capacity is eliminated rather than paused. Türkiye Today reported that Israel is preparing for renewed strikes[22].
Impact on themKhamenei explicitly named 'Zionist' assets as targets, so Israel would face Iranian retaliation in any new round[6].
Frames it asTheir strongest case is that a deal is cheaper for everyone than another round of war. The region's oil and gas exports, airports and cities sit inside the range of any 'geographically unrestricted' Iranian reply[5]. Doha is hosting Iranian negotiators to keep a channel open[3].
WhyPrevent strikes that could pull Gulf territory into the war. Restore energy flows through Hormuz. Keep their standing as indispensable brokers.
Impact on themThey bear direct physical and economic risk if fighting resumes, and they earn diplomatic weight if a deal is reached.
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The Bias Ledger average rating 3.7
The same story, as framed by outlets across the spectrum, ordered least to most biased. The bias score (1 = straight, 10 = heavily spun) is an AI assessment of that framing — click an outlet to see its track record. The tell is the word choice or omission that reveals the angle.
| Outlet | Vantage | Bias | How they frame it | The tell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reuters | International wire, center | 2 | Trump says US has one or two remaining targets in Iran, including Pickaxe Mountain | Straight, quote-led wording. It includes Iran's denial of nuclear activity at the site and the location details. |
| CBS News | U.S. center / center-left | 3 | Trump suggests more attacks on Iran after Ayatollah warns against resuming war | Putting Khamenei's warning first casts Trump as the one escalating. 'Suggests' is fair to his offhand wording. The Doha talks get prominent play. |
| Kurdistan24 | Iraqi Kurdish (KDP-affiliated) | 3 | Iran's Supreme Leader Warns US, Israel of Unrestricted Response to Renewed Attacks | Centers Tehran's warning and quotes it directly with little added characterization. |
| Israel Hayom | Israeli right (Adelson family-owned) | 4 | Trump says US can hit Iran sites in 10 minutes | Leads with U.S. capability and speed. It plays down Trump's statement that talks are 'going fine' and Rubio's 'no decision.' |
| Gulf News | Emirati (Dubai-based, establishment-aligned) | 4 | Trump Signals US Prepared for Swift Action on Key Iranian Targets Amid Middle East Tensions | 'Signals… prepared for swift action' reads intent into a remark Rubio said was not a decision. |
| Fox News | U.S. right | 5 | Trump threatens to strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain over centrifuges | Gives 'over centrifuges' as the reason, though the centrifuge claim comes from Israeli and U.S. officials and inspectors have not confirmed it. The page URL frames it as Iran's 'last untouched' site and asks why Trump is 'suddenly' threatening it. |
| The Sunday Guardian | Indian (right-of-center) | 5 | US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live Updates: Trump Threatens More Strikes on Iran, Says US Yet to Address One or Two Remaining Targets | 'Threatens More Strikes' is stronger than Trump's actual words, which named sites but announced no decision. |
References
- Trump says US has one or two remaining targets in Iran, including Pickaxe Mountain — Reuters · International wire service, commercially owned (Thomson Reuters); republished by The Business Standard, a Bangladeshi daily
- Trump says US needs to take care of 'one or two sites' in Iran; talks 'going fine' but Tehran 'not very reliable' — The Times of Israel · Israeli, independent, center
- Live Updates: Trump suggests more attacks on Iran after Ayatollah warns against resuming war — CBS News · U.S. commercial network (Paramount Skydance), center/center-left
- No choice made yet by Trump on resuming military action against Iran, Rubio says — Fox News · U.S. right (Fox Corp.)
- Iran's Supreme Leader Warns US, Israel of Unrestricted Response to Renewed Attacks — Kurdistan24 · Iraqi Kurdish, affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party
- Iran's Khamenei orders unrestricted response to threats — The New Arab · London-based, Qatari-funded
- Iran warns of wider war as diplomatic efforts seek to revive ceasefire — The Business Standard · Bangladeshi private daily carrying wire copy
- Iran's Khamenei warns US and Israel against new attacks — France 24 · French state-funded international broadcaster
- Trump rejects Iran's seven-day roadmap to end war and reopen Hormuz — Al Jazeera · Qatari state-funded
- Trump rejects Iran's proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz, restart peace talks — The Washington Post · U.S. center-left (owned by Jeff Bezos)
- Donald Trump rejects Iran 7-day proposal, considers renewed military strikes after midterms — The Hill · U.S. center, Washington politics outlet (Nexstar)
- Iran's mysterious Pickaxe Mountain a 'candidate' for new nuclear activities — ABC News (Australia) · Australian public broadcaster
- Satellite images show construction surge at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain: CSIS — Ahram Online · Egyptian state-owned; reports a CSIS study (CSIS is a Washington think tank funded partly by governments and defense firms)
- What Is Pickaxe Mountain, Iran's Underground Nuclear Site That Trump Is Threatening? — Time · U.S. center/center-left newsmagazine (owned by Marc Benioff)
- Iran transfers thousands of nuclear centrifuges deep underground — The Jerusalem Post · Israeli, center-right
- Trump threatens to strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain over centrifuges — Fox News · U.S. right (Fox Corp.)
- Oct. 31: Senior Iranian official says no nuclear talks or reopening of Hormuz until US accepts Iran's demands — The Times of Israel · Israeli, independent, center
- Report: Trump Rejects Iran 7-Day Hormuz Proposal, Expects to Renew Strikes After Midterms — Breitbart · U.S. right, pro-Trump
- Israel prepares for renewed Iran strikes as Trump points to Pickaxe Mountain — Türkiye Today · Turkish, English-language, close to the government line
- Trump says Iran building deeper nuclear site protected by granite — Fox News · U.S. right (Fox Corp.)