[Anchor]

President Trump has warned that he will soon strike the so-called "Pickaxe Mountain," where Iran's underground nuclear facilities are reportedly located. He also stated that if the Houthi rebels blockade the Red Sea, the United States will handle it.

Here is a report from Washington correspondent Jeon Byeong-nam.

[Reporter]

U.S. President Donald Trump said that while Iran is desperate to meet with the U.S., he has no interest until they are prepared for meaningful negotiations.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: They (Iran) are being hit hard, so they are desperate to meet and end this situation. But until a meaningful meeting is prepared, we are not even interested.]

These remarks were made before his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun early today (July 22) in Korea Standard Time. It is interpreted as a message pressuring Iran to present satisfactory concessions on the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear issues.

Trump also stated that the maritime blockade against Iran is fully operational and that military operations are not over, signaling additional strikes on suspected underground nuclear facility sites, including the so-called "Pickaxe Mountain."

[Donald Trump / U.S. President: We will strike those (nuclear) facilities. Anywhere Iran even thinks about nuclear weapons, we will strike very powerfully.]

He also warned that if the Houthi rebels blockade the Red Sea, he would "handle" it.

Previously, the Houthi rebels announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, and concerns over a subsequent surge in international oil prices are spreading.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized the possibility of Iran's nuclear armament and even brought up the case of North Korea.

[Pete Hegseth / U.S. Secretary of Defense: For 47 years, they (Iran) have been building conventional capabilities just as North Korea did. Remember, that is how North Korea built its (nuclear) bomb.]

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that "concerns are growing that the U.S. defense budget is being depleted due to the prolonged war with Iran," adding that "some key budget items are expected to be exhausted within weeks."

With approximately 55.5 trillion won already spent on the war with Iran—more than the estimated cost—and with the White House's request for additional budget support stalled in Congress, the fiscal burden is intensifying.

Under these circumstances, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane appeared at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing to request prompt budget support.

(Video reporting: Park Eun-ha, Video editing: Jung Yong-hwa, Design: Shim Su-hyeon)