US President Donald Trump on Saturday, 1 November 2025, publicly named Pickaxe Mountain as an Iranian site that required action, even as he described ongoing negotiations with Tehran as 'going fine' and left open whether diplomacy would ultimately produce a deal. The remarks, made to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Trump had not yet decided whether to order fresh military action against Iran.

Trump's Remarks on Pickaxe Mountain

'You probably could look at Pickaxe Mountain, and you have to take care of that,' Trump told reporters, identifying the site by name and suggesting that dealing with the remaining Iranian targets could be accomplished rapidly. He indicated there were 'still one or two sites to address', without elaborating on what action he envisioned or within what timeframe.

Despite the pointed reference, Trump struck a cautiously optimistic tone on diplomacy. 'We'll see if they make a deal,' he said, while simultaneously questioning Tehran's reliability as a negotiating partner.

Rubio at G20: Military Option Remains on the Table

Speaking at the conclusion of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, Rubio declined to discuss specific military operations or signal how long diplomatic efforts would be allowed to run. He stressed that all timing decisions rested with Trump.

'We can achieve military objectives if we seek to. He hasn't made a decision. I have no announcement in that regard with you today, and nor do we take any of it lightly,' Rubio said. He added that Trump 'would already have acted' if military force were his preferred course, describing the president as someone who 'prefers to solve it diplomatically.'

Talks Through Multiple Channels

Asked about Qatari-backed diplomatic contacts, Rubio confirmed that engagement with Iran had continued through several channels — including intermediaries and, in some cases, direct conversations. He declined to assess the progress of those talks or specify any deadline. 'There are multiple talks; talks have actually never stopped,' he said.

Rubio said any eventual arrangement would have to address core US security concerns: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and confronting its support for armed groups across the Middle East. No Iranian response to these allegations was available at the time of reporting.

Shipping Safety and the Strait of Hormuz

Rubio also linked the standoff with Iran to disruptions in commercial shipping, accusing Tehran of targeting vessels carrying energy supplies and other cargo — specifically referencing ships with Indian sailors aboard. He said US forces were actively defending shipping against Iranian drones and missiles and called for broader international participation in securing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, describing cooperation from other nations as limited and the burden as falling 'primarily on the United States.'

G20 Context and What Comes Next

The Atlanta gathering formed part of preparations for the G20 leaders' summit scheduled for Florida in December. Its agenda covered energy, supply chains, critical minerals, food security, and freedom of navigation — all areas that intersect directly with the consequences of any military escalation or prolonged disruption to Gulf shipping lanes. Rubio acknowledged that while participants broadly agreed on the problems, collective solutions remained elusive.

With the G20 summit weeks away and Iran talks continuing through multiple back-channels, whether Washington opts for diplomacy or military action is now among the most consequential near-term questions in global geopolitics.