Trump says US could hit Iran's remaining nuclear sites in 10 minutes

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday night that the United States could deal with what is left of Iran's nuclear programme within 10 minutes, two Israeli news organisations reported. The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump described 'one or two sites' in Iran as still needing to be dealt with, and linked the remarks to a conversation he had held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel Hayom reported that Trump made the comments while speaking about contacts with Iran at a Halloween event held at Mar-a-Lago, his estate in Florida. In that account, Trump complained about Iran's conduct in negotiations, saying: "They make a deal, and then they back out." Israel Hayom said the remarks came as The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had talked with Netanyahu about a possible American strike.

Who said what

The two reports agree on the central claim: that Trump spoke of the US being able to act against Iran's remaining nuclear sites in a matter of minutes. They frame the link to Netanyahu slightly differently. The Jerusalem Post presents the remarks as following a conversation between the two leaders. Israel Hayom attributes the account of that conversation to The Wall Street Journal, a US newspaper, rather than stating it directly. Neither report, as available to us, quotes the Prime Minister's Office or the White House describing the call.

Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's prime minister and heads its government. Mar-a-Lago is Trump's private estate in Florida, where Israel Hayom said the Halloween event took place.

What 'remaining sites' refers to

Trump's phrasing, as carried by The Jerusalem Post, suggests that in his view most of Iran's nuclear infrastructure has already been addressed and only one or two locations are left. The available text of that report names at least one site, but the name is cut off in the material we have, so we do not identify it here. Neither report specifies what kind of action Trump had in mind beyond the reference to a possible American strike in The Wall Street Journal's account.

Diplomacy and pressure

Trump's comment that Iran makes deals and then withdraws from them indicates that some form of contact with Tehran has been taking place. Israel Hayom described his remarks as addressing those contacts, but neither report gives details of what is being negotiated, who is involved, or what stage any talks have reached.

For readers following Israel's security situation, the remarks show that Iran's nuclear programme remains a subject of discussion between Washington and Jerusalem. The reports do not say whether Israel would take part in any action.

What the reports do not say

• Whether any decision on a strike has been made, or whether the remarks were intended as a warning in the context of negotiations.
• The date of the reported Trump and Netanyahu conversation, and whether either government has confirmed it.
• The full identity and status of the one or two sites Trump referred to.
• Any response from Iran to the remarks.
• What Israel's role, if any, would be in a possible American operation.

We will update this report if official statements or further details become available.