Trump threatens Iran with strikes over activity at Pickaxe Mountain
US President Donald Trump warned Iran against activity at Pickaxe Mountain near the damaged uranium enrichment complex in Natanz. He said the United States would strike Iran very hard if Tehran continued work at the site. This was reported by CNBC.
Activity at Pickaxe Mountain
The underground tunnel complex at Pickaxe Mountain, known in Farsi as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is located about two kilometers from the Natanz complex. Trump had previously threatened to attack the complex over concerns that Iran could resume its nuclear program.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), after analyzing satellite imagery, said that road activity at Pickaxe Mountain in 2026 was higher than at any time in the history of the facility. Analysts also assessed that there had been a noticeable increase in construction work.
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CSIS believes that activity at the site has shifted from active earthworks to probable internal construction and further reinforcement of external structures. Analysts noted that they could neither confirm nor refute claims that Iran had moved centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, but described the activity near Natanz as suspicious. Iran has repeatedly denied seeking to create nuclear weapons.
Attacks near the Strait of Hormuz
Trump's statement came amid mutual attacks by the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz area. Iran said it had launched ballistic missiles at a US military base in Jordan and attacked 10 vessels near the strait, through which about 20% of global seaborne oil shipments usually pass.
Earlier, US Central Command said it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to two missile strikes by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against a US Navy ship over two days. The attacks on tankers and intensified fighting between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen drew market attention to the risk of oil supply disruptions. On Thursday morning, November Brent futures traded at $100.40 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate futures traded at $95.51.
