As U.S.-Iran peace negotiations face renewed challenges, President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of further military operations in Iran.
In an interview with the U.S. news program "Full Measure" aired on May 10, Trump stated, "We can go in for another two weeks and attack all the targets in Iran." He noted that while about 70% of the specific targets they aimed for have been addressed, there are still other targets available for attack. He added, "Even if we don’t do that, it’s just cleanup work, and it will take them years to rebuild."
Trump's comments came in response to a question about whether combat operations could be considered over. He clarified, "No, I didn’t say that. I said they were defeated, but that doesn’t mean it’s over."
Following Trump's dissatisfaction with Iran's response to U.S. proposals for peace, assessments suggest that negotiations have effectively returned to square one. His interview, which left the door open for renewed military action, has heightened uncertainty surrounding the conflict. Earlier, Trump expressed his discontent on social media platform Truth Social, stating, "I just read the response from Iran's so-called 'representatives.' I don’t like it. It’s completely unacceptable."
Additionally, Trump reaffirmed that securing Iran's enriched uranium remains a key objective. He remarked, "We will get it at some point," and emphasized, "We are monitoring it." He also mentioned the establishment of the Space Force, stating, "They are watching it. As you know, I created the Space Force, and they are monitoring it." Regarding the monitoring capabilities, he warned, "If someone approaches, we will know their name, address, and badge number. We will know if someone gets close, and we will blow it up."
Israel Also Targets Iran's Uranium
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed similar sentiments, pressuring Iran further. In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes," he stated, "I believe this war has achieved many results, but it is not over yet," citing the remaining nuclear materials and enriched uranium that need to be removed from Iran.
Netanyahu indicated that while it is possible to go in and extract the enriched uranium, he refrained from discussing specific military measures, including the potential deployment of Israeli or U.S. special forces. He noted, "What President Trump told me was, 'I want to go in there.' I believe it is physically possible. If there is an agreement and we can go in and extract it, why not? That would be the best way."
However, when asked whether military force could be used to remove uranium if negotiations fail, Netanyahu avoided a direct answer, stating, "I will not discuss military possibilities or plans." He also declined to provide a specific timeline for resolving the issue of Iran's uranium, emphasizing, "This is a very important mission."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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