The key facts

  • Trump said the US could strike one or two remaining sites in Iran within 10 minutes, including Kirk Kog mountain (Kolang Gaz La)
  • According to Axios, a new attack is likely if the Republicans lose the congressional elections on November 3
  • Qatar is trying to secure a US-Iran agreement before the vote; the June memorandum expired in August without a new deal

Trump's statement about the 'remaining sites'

US President Donald Trump said that the United States still has to deal with one or two sites in Iran, among which he named a suspected nuclear facility beneath Kolang Gaz La mountain, which in the US is called Kirk Kog mountain. According to him, this 'can be done in 10 minutes.' At the same time, Trump claims that the US has already destroyed almost all of Iran's weaponry, much of the country's production capacity, and the Islamic Republic's nuclear potential. This is reported by Gazeta.Ru citing RIA Novosti.

The link to the congressional elections

According to Axios, which Gazeta.Ru cites, Trump may attack Iran again if the Republicans lose the congressional elections on November 3. Qatar, meanwhile, is trying to secure an agreement between the US and Iran before the vote in order to prevent a new war; the factors preventing the parties from reaching a deal are examined in a separate Gazeta.Ru article.

Context: from the operation to the expired memorandum

The US and Israeli military operation against Iran began on February 28. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran in June led to a memorandum of understanding providing for a 60-day period to reach an agreement; that deadline expired in August without an extension or a new deal. Thus, Trump's statement came against the backdrop of the absence of a current treaty between the countries. Earlier, in the US the costs of the conflict with Iran were estimated.