Trump threatens Iranian nuclear site as US strikes enter 12th night

Trump threatens Iranian nuclear site as US strikes enter 12th night

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site near Natanz, describing the heavily fortified underground facility as a target the U.S. Could strike pretty soon. The site is believed to be buried 100 metres or more beneath a mountain and is suspected of housing uranium enrichment operations, though UN inspectors have never been granted access.

The escalation comes as U.S. Military operations against Iran entered their 12th consecutive night of attacks on Thursday, July 23, 2026. American strikes, which resumed after a June ceasefire collapsed, have expanded from southern regions to western and central Iran. The U.S. Military's Central Command stated it will continue to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten shipping traffic.

Tensions have centered on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy. President Trump vowed to destroy one Iranian bridge or power plant every time Iran targets a ship in the strait. In a post on Truth Social, he added that retaliation would include sites located next to, or in Tehran.

Iran has responded with its own threats. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on X that Tehran's defense doctrine is eye for an eye, warning that any aggression against Iranian infrastructure will compel a powerful and decisive response. He added that countries supporting U.S. Military action would be considered legitimate targets.

Iran's joint military command warned that if U.S. Threats against infrastructure are carried out, Iranian forces would target regional electricity, gas, and oil infrastructure, preventing the export of even a single drop of oil.

Shipping Blockades and Global Oil Impact

The conflict has created two major chokepoints for global oil supplies. Iran has maintained a near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, while the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen has imposed a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

On Thursday, the Houthis claimed missile and drone strikes on two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla. A maritime security source reported the Encelia sent a distress call after being hit by a missile near the Saudi port of Jizan. The British risk group Vanguard reported the Saudi-flagged vessel was struck approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq. The attack on the Layla remains unconfirmed.

The disruptions have forced shipping changes:

• Five tankers changed course in the Red Sea on Wednesday to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
• Three tankers carrying Saudi oil to India and China made u-turns on Tuesday.
• Two Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi crude are currently heading toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Millions of barrels of Saudi oil are now being diverted to the Red Sea port of Yanbu to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. If the southern Red Sea route remains blocked, ships must use the northern route via the Suez Canal, adding weeks and increased costs to journeys. Global oil prices have risen to about $94 a barrel, fueling worldwide inflation and increasing pressure on U.S. Gasoline consumers.

Human and Military Costs

The conflict, which began on February 28, has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people. An Iranian health ministry official stated that 53 civilians have been killed and 592 wounded since late last month. Dublin's new ambassador to Tehran, Aidan Cronin, condemned recent attacks on Iran, specifically citing civilian deaths at the Minab school.

The U.S. Has suffered 18 service member deaths and more than 450 injuries. On Wednesday, President Trump attended a ceremony at Dover Air Force Base for four service members killed in recent attacks on military bases in Iraq and Jordan.

While the U.S. Military maintains it does not target civilians, President Trump has threatened to attack civilian infrastructure if it is used for military purposes. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described such attacks as unacceptable.

Regional Fallout and Diplomatic Strain

The war has widened beyond the U.S. And Iran:

• Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan: Reported intercepting Iranian drones and missiles. Iran targeted U.S. Military assets and water desalination plants in these nations.
• Iran: State media reported explosions in Jask, Tabriz, Chabahar, and Konarak. In Bushehr, near the country's only commercial nuclear power reactor, U.S. Forces reportedly attacked a military target twice on Thursday.
• Iraq: A U.S. Missile attack on the Shalamcheh border crossing reportedly killed two people and wounded 11.

In diplomacy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged Ireland to help facilitate dialogue between Tehran and the European Union. Meanwhile, ASEAN foreign ministers are preparing to call for freedom of navigation in international straits as Southeast Asian nations face fuel shortages and rising prices.

Domestically, the U.S. House adopted a Republican-backed $95 billion budget proposal to fund the war in a 216-214 vote. The measure now faces skepticism in the Senate.