--- title: "Trump Warns of Potential US Strike on Iran's 'Nuclear Fortress' at Pickaxe Mountain" description: "In an interview with Newsmax, Donald Trump stated that the US could strike Iran's \"nuclear fortress\" at Pickaxe Mountain to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while not ruling out the use of conventional bombs." date: 2026-10-16T20:07:31.398Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/trump-warns-strike-pickaxe-mountain-iran tags: [donald-trump, iran, nuclear-program, mount-pickax, strait-of-hormuz, us-iran] author: "Alexander Buran, Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Trump Warns of Potential US Strike on Iran's 'Nuclear Fortress' at Pickaxe Mountain ![Donald Trump wearing a red USA hat at a political event](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/tramp-ugroza-udar-po-gore-pikaks-yanernaya-krepost-iran/tramp-ugroza-udar-po-gore-pikaks-yanernaya-krepost-iran-1.webp) ## Key Points - Trump stated that the US could strike Pickaxe Mountain to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons - The US president ruled out using nuclear weapons and deploying ground troops in Iran - Israeli intelligence believes Iran moved centrifuges and some high-enriched uranium under Pickaxe Mountain - Iran stated that the Strait of Hormuz will open after the withdrawal of US troops from the region In an interview with Newsmax published on October 15, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States intends to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons, and in this regard, Washington is considering a direct strike on Pickaxe Mountain — a facility Tehran views as its "nuclear fortress." According to the president, Iran's nuclear facilities are located deep beneath millions of tons of rock, and it is this complex, he said, that is under constant surveillance by US intelligence. ### "We Will Strike This Target and Neutralize It Quickly" "Their nuclear facilities are located deep beneath millions of tons of rock. Right now, we are watching Pickaxe Mountain. We may have to act there. We are going to strike this target and quickly neutralize it," Trump stated. He justified the need for a tough stance by saying that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, it "will definitely" use them. Thus, a strike on Pickaxe, by the president's logic, is viewed as a preemptive measure aimed at depriving Tehran of the ability to create a nuclear arsenal. ### Nuclear Weapons and Ground Troops: What Is Excluded At the same time, Trump clearly separated the discussed scenario from the use of nuclear weapons: "I will not use nuclear weapons. There is no need for that," he emphasized. The president also reaffirmed that he is not considering deploying US ground troops in Iran. Answering a question about the so-called "Mother of All Bombs" (GBU-43/B, MOAB), Trump did not specify whether he would authorize its use against Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear sites, but stressed that the MOAB is not a nuclear bomb. Earlier, according to TASS reports from September 28, new contacts between the US and Iran through intermediaries were reported, indicating a parallel diplomatic track amid rhetorical warnings. ### What Is Known About Pickaxe Mountain and the Natanz Facilities Pickaxe Mountain, whose peak rises approximately 1,600 meters above sea level, is located 220 kilometers south of Tehran and two kilometers from the Natanz nuclear complex. The facility, according to experts, was built to withstand bombing and is believed to be capable of resisting bunker-buster bombs — similar to those the US used against three other Iranian nuclear sites last year. Iran, according to a source, denied the International Atomic Energy Agency access to the facility at Pickaxe Mountain. In Natanz itself, two uranium enrichment plants previously operated: surface and underground; according to the UN nuclear watchdog, the surface plant was destroyed, and the remaining underground one reportedly sustained heavy damage. ### Intelligence Assessments: Centrifuges and High-Enriched Uranium Trump's warning came amid Israeli intelligence assessments suggesting that Iran may have transferred thousands of centrifuges to the underground complex beneath Pickaxe Mountain following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran last June, placing them deep underground and thereby making them harder to target. Israel also believes that after that war, Tehran transferred a portion of its 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium to Pickaxe Mountain. Experts believe that Iranian uranium enriched to 60% could be further enriched to weapons-grade levels within weeks or even days. ### The Strait of Hormuz: Iran's Conditions Against the backdrop of these statements on October 16, Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia announced that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to maritime shipping following the withdrawal of US troops from the Persian Gulf region. "If the US leaves the region, the Strait of Hormuz will open," he stated. According to Iranian defense officials, in this case, "collective security involving the countries of the region will be established, and the global economy will prosper." The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital shipping lane for oil transport worldwide, and both Iran and the United States claim control over this strategically important waterway. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Президент Трамп предупреждает о возможном нападении на иранскую «ядерную крепость».](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/tong-thong-trump-canh-bao-tan-cong-phao-dai-hat-nhan-iran) - Primary source (Dan Tri): Trump's quotes from Newsmax, data on Pickaxe Mountain, Natanz, intelligence estimates, and Akrami-Nia's statement on the Strait of Hormuz. - [Трамп: США и Иран провели новые контакты через посредников](https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/28160169) - Context: On September 28, new contacts between the US and Iran through intermediaries were reported; used as background information. ## FAQ ### What exactly did Trump say about Pickaxe Mountain? He stated that the US is monitoring Pickaxe Mountain and may strike it to quickly neutralize the facility and prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. ### Will the US use nuclear weapons against Iran? Trump stated he will not use nuclear weapons, emphasizing there is no need for it, and is not considering deploying ground troops in Iran. ### What did Iran say about the Strait of Hormuz? On October 16, Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to shipping after the withdrawal of US troops from the Persian Gulf region.