Trump threatens imminent U.S. strikes on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site

Trump threatens imminent U.S. Strikes on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States will target a heavily fortified Iranian site known as Pickaxe Mountain, signaling that the U.S. Is not finished at all with the ongoing war against Tehran.

Speaking to reporters at the White House during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump stated,

"we’ll be hitting that area very probably pretty soon . . . and very heavily,"

Donald Trump, President of the United States, via Forbes

when asked about the site.

The location, also referred to as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is situated 140 miles south of Tehran and less than two miles from the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. The site consists of an underground tunnel complex shielded by the mountain, with satellite imagery showing two pairs of entrances. According to the Institute for Science and International Security, Iran began building a secure perimeter around the mountain and Natanz in 2025.

Intelligence and Nuclear Concerns

The threat follows a Wall Street Journal report that Israeli intelligence provided information to the U.S. Suggesting Iran has moved centrifuges used for uranium enrichment to the site. While Trump admitted he thinks they may have moved them, he noted the U.S. Does not have it on record and dismissed the move as meaningless unless Iran possesses nuclear material, which he insisted they do not.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi told PBS in March that Iran's intention to move sensitive facilities underground at Pickaxe Mountain was not a secret. The Institute for Science and International Security noted that while the site is protected by the mountain, it could be targeted via ground forces or deep earth penetrating weapons via aerial attacks, as well as through the destruction of ventilation shafts and power supply lines.

Escalation of Regional Hostilities

The threats emerge as fighting between the two nations continues after a ceasefire agreed upon last month collapsed. The conflict has intensified over the last 10 days, with Iran concentrating attacks on U.S. Military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

• Jordan: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed a strike on a complex in the Rukban region housing U.S. Forces.
• Kuwait: Officials reported hits on multiple water desalination and power plants, forcing residents to ration energy.
• Bahrain: The kingdom reported multiple interceptions of drone and missile strikes.

The deaths bring to 17 the number of fatalities among US service members. This follows the deaths of three U.S. Soldiers in recent days, which prompted a new round of U.S. Strikes on Monday intended to degrade Iranian capabilities used to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Adding to the volatility, Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen announced a blockade of Saudi ships and threatened vessels in the southern Red Sea. Trump stated the U.S. Would take care of the Houthis if they follow through. Maritime intelligence provider Vanguard Tech reported that two tankers reversed course in the Red Sea following the warning.

Military and Financial Toll

During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated the Iran war has cost the U.S. Military $37.5 billion so far, an increase from $28 billion in the spring. Other officials and experts have placed the total cost between $80 billion and $100 billion, accounting for aircraft replacement and base repairs.

Hegseth told senators that while Iran still has military capabilities, the damage inflicted has put them in the worst place they’ve ever been. This contrasts with Trump's previous assertions in March that Iran was finished from a military standpoint and his May claim that they were decimated.

Trump projected that if the U.S. Left now, it would take Iran 20 to 25 years to rebuild. However, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, expressed concern over the lack of congressional authorization for these operations. She noted that a July 10 notification effectively restarted a 60-day clock under the 1970s War Powers Resolution, arguing that the administration is using temporary ceasefires to avoid constitutional requirements for congressional approval.

Diplomatic Maneuvers

Despite the threats of bombing, Trump suggested that Iran want to desperately meet, though he stated the U.S. Has no interest until they meet in a meaningful way.

In his meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Trump discussed potential U.S. Aid for the Lebanese Armed Forces to help the country disarm Hezbollah and secure villages. Trump also announced the reversal of a 40-year-old FAA regulation, allowing U.S. Airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon.

In Iran, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned via state media that any strike on nuclear or sensitive sites would lead to an expansion of the war and a powerful assault on all U.S. Interests and allies in the region.