Trump warns Iran of fresh strikes as nuclear talks continue

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that discussions between the United States and Iran have been encouraging, but warned that Washington is prepared to launch additional strikes if Tehran fails to reach a new agreement.

Trump said he would prefer to avoid further military action, particularly attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants. However, he stressed that military action remains an option if diplomatic efforts collapse.

“It’s a very delicate balance,” Trump said, adding that Iran understands the consequences of refusing to negotiate. According to the US president, the current position of the United States is strong, and Tehran is aware that Washington is prepared to act if no agreement is reached. Despite the warnings, Trump described the recent diplomatic contacts with Iran as “very good talks.”

Trump’s comments came ahead of his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The meeting follows joint US-Israeli military operations against Iranian targets earlier this year and is expected to focus on regional security and Iran’s nuclear programme.

During the interview, Trump addressed reports that Netanyahu intends to discuss intelligence concerning Pickaxe Mountain, an underground fortified site believed to be connected to Iran’s nuclear activities. The facility is located near one of the country’s major nuclear installations and has drawn increasing international attention.

Trump dismissed suggestions that he needed Netanyahu’s briefing on the matter, saying he was already fully informed about developments at the site. Referring to Netanyahu by his nickname “Bibi,” Trump said the Israeli leader wanted the United States to remain actively engaged. He added that if negotiations with Iran fail, the US would have no hesitation in targeting the facility, claiming it could be destroyed “very easily.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claimed that US military aircraft have been operating from Israeli bases during recent strikes on Iran. In comments reported by Al Jazeera, Katz said American aircraft and refuelling planes departed from Israel to carry out attacks. He also accused Iran of directing its missile attacks at multiple countries while avoiding direct strikes against Israel.

On the same day, Iran announced that Bushehr Airport in the country’s southwest has been rendered inoperable following US airstrikes. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said officials visited the airport and found extensive destruction, including a newly refurbished aircraft that was reportedly destroyed by a direct missile strike. She described the airport as effectively out of service.

Mohajerani also said that airports in Iranshahr, Semnan and Bandar Abbas sustained damage during the attacks. In addition, the Bushehr Meteorological Centre was reportedly hit, while widespread destruction affected civilian infrastructure, including fishing boats, tourism businesses and other private property.

According to the Iranian government, the strikes damaged 12 bridges, two tunnels, the main railway station in Bandar Abbas and several additional bridges in southern and northeastern Iran. Mohajerani further claimed that 350 government employees were killed during the conflict.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi on Monday evening. According to a statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the discussions focused on regional developments, the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the importance of strengthening diplomatic cooperation to promote stability in the Gulf. The talks came shortly after Saudi Arabia announced it had intercepted drones launched by Iran-backed groups operating in Iraq.