Washington, D.C. – US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could target Iran’s heavily fortified “Pickaxe Mountain” nuclear site “very soon,” signaling a major potential escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
Targeted Facility and Heightened Surveillance
President Trump stated that US authorities are closely monitoring activity at the Pickaxe Mountain facility, a deeply buried underground tunnel complex built beneath solid granite near the Natanz nuclear infrastructure. Western and regional intelligence reports suggest that critical components of Iran’s nuclear enrichment hardware and advanced centrifuges have been relocated to the site.
The threat comes alongside reinforced US military messaging regarding maritime security in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. Trump reiterated Washington’s commitment to maintaining free navigation and enforcing economic and naval pressure against Tehran.
Tactical Options and Regional Implications
Defense analysts note that neutralizing Pickaxe Mountain poses significant military challenges due to the site’s extreme depth and geology. Potential tactical options discussed by military planners range from specialized bunker-buster munitions aimed at tunnel entryways to targeted operational disruption.
While official responses from Iranian authorities remain pending, international observers warn that any direct strike on nuclear-adjacent infrastructure could destabilize global energy markets and trigger broader maritime conflict across the region.
Trump’s direct threat to target Iran’s deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain site reflects an intensifying phase of US military pressure, raising global concerns over potential regional instability and disruption to international maritime trade.
