Trump says United States may have to strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site
Donald Trump said the United States might need to target Pickaxe Mountain, a deep-underground Iranian nuclear facility, to stop Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
During a recent interview, Donald Trump asserted that the United States may have to launch an attack on Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground facility associated with Iran’s nuclear activities. He argued that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is essential, claiming the country would employ such a weapon against the United States if it succeeded. Trump clarified that any strike would not involve nuclear weapons or the deployment of U.S. ground forces.
While he mentioned the possibility of using a large conventional bomb, he did not say whether the GBU-43/B “mother of all bombs” had been approved for use. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions following U.S.-Israeli strikes that began in February. Trump reiterated that the United States does not need to resort to nuclear options to achieve its objectives in Iran.
Why it matters
The statement signals potential escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions and hints at future military options.
How this story developed
- Sep 9 Trump’s Iran conflict fuels energy price surge, jeopardizing GOP midterm prospects
- Oct 11 Trump has kept large‑scale military pressure on Iran on hold for the next 24 days until the midterm elections conclude.
- Oct 11 Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the United States’ response to Tehran’s proposal was inadequate and called for clarification of remaining issues.
- Oct 11 President Trump issued an executive order temporarily lifting the federal excise tax on red‑dyed diesel.
- Oct 12 Iran presented a seven‑condition plan at the UN General Assembly to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oct 13 Trump’s Strait of Hormuz announcement and dismissal of Iran’s UN proposal occurred alongside a Brent price jump and the departure of the final U.S. soldiers from Iraq.
- Oct 14 Iran’s security chief publicly named the US‑UAE night‑shuttle as a specific target.
- Oct 14 Iran announced a revised method for targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Oct 14 Trump warned that Washington will soon decide its next move against Iran.
- Oct 14 Donald Trump told a crowd at an Arizona-Nevada border rally that officials who leak to the media should be shot.
- Oct 15 U.S. armed forces have drawn up strike plans that include the GBU-43/B massive bomb for use on Iran’s energy and nuclear sites, pending a directive from Donald Trump.
- Oct 15 He repeated the call while endorsing Rep. Andy Biggs during his 2026 western campaign tour.
- Oct 16 President Trump publicly mentioned the MOAB as a possible option in an interview.
- Oct 16 Trump announced a Russian diesel import agreement.
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