Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that the United States could soon launch an attack on Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain nuclear complex. The facility, located near the damaged Natanz uranium enrichment site in the Zagros Mountains, is known for its deeply buried tunnel networks, thought to protect critical nuclear infrastructure from strikes.
In a recent interview, Trump described Pickaxe Mountain as a “high-priority” target, signaling a possible U.S. effort to neutralize Iran’s nuclear capabilities by striking this particularly resilient site. He stated that although U.S. intelligence currently reports no active operations at Pickaxe, preparations to target it might occur in the near future. The facility’s location beneath layers of granite—estimated to be as deep as 2,000 feet—has raised concerns over the difficulty of hitting it effectively, even with advanced bunker-buster weapons.
The comments came as U.S. forces continued aggressive military operations against Iranian targets, carrying out a third consecutive day of airstrikes following a recent increase in hostile activities in the Strait of Hormuz. These strikes are intended to retaliate against Iranian attacks on commercial shipping lanes deemed vital for global trade. The campaign has included naval blockades and precision attacks designed to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian and maritime security.
U.S. Central Command emphasized that these actions impose a significant cost on Iranian forces, aiming to disrupt future aggression. Trump further underscored the administration’s readiness to escalate the pressure, insisting that American strikes will intensify and that Iran has limited options in response.