Trump Threatens Strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain as Deep Underground Site Tests US Military Options
By Saqib S. Qureshi — SCN NEWS
WASHINGTON, October 16, 2026 — U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States may have to strike Iran's heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, raising the prospect of another attack on Iran's nuclear infrastructure even as questions remain over whether conventional American weapons could destroy the deeply buried facility.
In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday night, Trump said Washington was closely examining the site near Iran's Natanz nuclear complex and suggested military action could follow if the United States concluded that Iran was attempting to rebuild sensitive nuclear capabilities.
"Their nuclear is buried under millions of tons of mountain. Now we're looking at Pickaxe Mountain. We may have to go there. We'll take a shot at that one. We'll knock it out fast," Trump said.
The warning came amid a conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran in February and has expanded into a wider regional confrontation, disrupting energy markets and heightening concerns about the security of nuclear facilities across the Middle East.
Trump said his administration remained determined to prevent Iran from obtaining an atomic weapon, arguing that Tehran would use one if it acquired the capability. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons and maintains that its nuclear activities are intended for peaceful purposes.
The president ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran, saying conventional military capabilities were sufficient. He also reiterated that he was not considering deploying American ground troops.
Asked about the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, commonly known as the "mother of all bombs," Trump did not confirm whether he had authorized its deployment against Iranian nuclear or energy infrastructure. He emphasized that the weapon was not nuclear.
His comments left open a central question facing U.S. military planners: whether an airstrike could permanently disable a facility protected by an unusually deep layer of rock without requiring a more complicated operation.
Pickaxe Mountain lies approximately 220 kilometres south of Tehran, near Natanz, one of Iran's principal uranium enrichment sites. The mountain contains a tunnel complex that Western nuclear-security researchers have monitored through satellite imagery since construction began in 2020.
The Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington-based nuclear non-proliferation research organization, has assessed that the underground installation may extend at least 100 metres beneath the mountain, providing substantial protection against conventional air attacks.
Satellite imagery has shown fortified tunnel entrances, extensive security measures and continuing construction activity. Researchers have cautioned, however, that publicly available evidence does not establish that the facility is operational or that uranium enrichment is taking place inside it.
Iranian officials have rejected suggestions that the site is being used for nuclear weapons-related work. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in July that no nuclear activity was taking place at Pickaxe Mountain, challenging the justification for threatening military action against it.
The site's depth distinguishes it from other Iranian nuclear facilities that have been attacked during successive rounds of fighting. Natanz suffered extensive damage in U.S. and Israeli operations, while the Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex was not directly targeted in those campaigns, according to nuclear-security researchers.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has previously reported serious damage to enrichment infrastructure at Natanz. The extent of Iran's remaining nuclear capabilities, including activities at underground locations, remains an important issue for international inspectors and governments seeking to assess Tehran's programme.
Researchers examining Pickaxe Mountain have warned that its underground configuration could make destruction by air-delivered conventional weapons exceptionally difficult. The precise layout of the complex and the location of any sensitive equipment have not been independently established.
The GBU-43/B mentioned in Trump's interview is a large conventional blast weapon, rather than a specialized deep-penetrating bunker-buster. The distinction matters because the ability to damage surface structures does not necessarily demonstrate an ability to destroy installations protected by substantial layers of rock.
Experts have also questioned whether even powerful penetrating munitions could reliably eliminate a facility buried at the depths estimated for Pickaxe Mountain. Any assessment would depend on intelligence about the site's construction, internal layout and operational status, much of which remains unavailable publicly.
Trump's latest remarks were not his first warning about the installation. He threatened possible strikes against Pickaxe Mountain in July and September, saying the United States was monitoring activity there and would respond if Iran attempted to restore sensitive nuclear capabilities.
Those earlier warnings did not result in a publicly confirmed attack that destroyed the underground complex, underscoring the difference between presidential threats and an authorized military operation.
The renewed threat comes as Washington seeks to maintain military pressure on Iran while managing the wider consequences of the conflict, including disruptions to shipping and energy supplies in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global oil and gas shipments, has become a major concern for international markets as regional fighting has affected commercial shipping and heightened uncertainty over energy supplies.
Further strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure could intensify those concerns and complicate diplomatic efforts to establish limits on Tehran's nuclear activities.
Iran has warned that attacks on sensitive installations could provoke a broader response. Tehran has also criticized U.S. military operations as violations of its sovereignty, while Washington maintains that its objective is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The dispute leaves international nuclear monitoring at the centre of the confrontation. Determining whether Iran has resumed prohibited weapons-related activities, or whether facilities such as Pickaxe Mountain are being prepared for future nuclear operations, requires evidence beyond the existence of underground construction.
The IAEA's ability to verify nuclear material and activities remains critical to distinguishing confirmed developments from intelligence assessments and political claims.
For the Trump administration, Pickaxe Mountain presents a strategic dilemma. A military strike could demonstrate Washington's determination to prevent Iran from rebuilding sensitive facilities, but the installation's depth and uncertain contents raise questions about what such an operation could achieve.
A strike that failed to destroy underground infrastructure could leave Iran with the capacity to resume construction or other activities, while exposing the region to additional military escalation.
Trump did not announce a date for an attack, identify a final military plan or confirm that he had approved the use of a particular weapon.
His comments nevertheless signalled that Pickaxe Mountain remains under consideration as a potential U.S. target, with Washington's next decision likely to depend on its assessment of Iranian nuclear activity and the risks of expanding the conflict.