Trump threatens Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site: Could the US strike reignite the West Asia war?

A diplomatic breakthrough or another military strike? US President Donald Trump is keeping both possibilities alive as Washington and Tehran attempt to negotiate an end to their conflict. His latest warning is directed at one of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear-linked locations: Pickaxe Mountain, an underground facility near the Natanz nuclear complex.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said Washington might have to target the site if Iran failed to reach an agreement. He claimed American forces could carry out the operation “in literally one hour”, describing it as a relatively straightforward military task.

But alongside the threat, Trump insisted that a diplomatic settlement remained possible. He said there was a “very good chance” of a deal and argued that further fighting could be avoided if Tehran accepted Washington’s demands.

The remarks come amid reports of fresh US military activity on Iran’s Qeshm Island, underscoring how fragile the diplomatic opening remains.

What is Pickaxe Mountain and why does Trump want to target it?

Pickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified underground facility located around 220 km south of Tehran and approximately 2 km from Iran’s Natanz nuclear complex. According to a Reuters explainer published in July, the site contains deeply buried tunnel infrastructure that could potentially support activities linked to Iran’s nuclear programme.

Construction reportedly began in 2020, following sabotage at Natanz. Iran had previously described plans to build a larger underground facility near the complex. The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based nuclear non-proliferation research organisation, has examined satellite imagery of the site.

However, there is an important distinction between a suspected nuclear-linked facility and an operational enrichment plant. In its June 2026 assessment, ISIS said Pickaxe Mountain remained under construction and was not believed to contain facilities ready for operation or stocks of enriched uranium. The organisation also said there was no evidence of uranium enrichment at the monitored sites following the April ceasefire.

The site's depth and fortifications make it a difficult military target. Reuters reported that experts believe the complex may be beyond the reach of even the most powerful US bunker-buster bombs.

What has Trump said about Iran’s military and nuclear programme?

Trump claimed that earlier American operations had severely weakened Iran’s navy, air force and air-defence systems, leaving Tehran with limited missile and drone capabilities. He also referred to Operation Midnight Hammer, the US military operation against Iranian nuclear facilities, and said Washington had significantly damaged the country's nuclear infrastructure.

Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains Trump's stated objective. Tehran, however, denies seeking an atomic bomb.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Pickaxe Mountain if negotiations fail. In an October 16 interview with Newsmax, he said the US might have to target the facility but explicitly ruled out using a nuclear weapon, telling the broadcaster: “I wouldn’t use nuclear. We don’t have to.”

Do the latest US strikes on Qeshm Island threaten diplomacy?

The latest warning comes after US forces reportedly struck targets on Iran's Qeshm Island on November 2. The Wall Street Journal reported the operation, while CNN cited US officials describing it as a limited defensive action intended to protect American assets from Iranian surface-to-air missile threats.

The strikes were significant because they came as Washington was publicly signalling that it wanted to avoid a wider resumption of hostilities.

Reuters reported on November 2 that Iranian negotiators had been holding talks with Qatari mediators in Doha for a third consecutive day. Trump said a deal could happen, while Vice-President JD Vance expressed optimism about the prospects of a negotiated settlement.

Is a nuclear strike on Iran actually being considered?

The possibility gained attention after conservative commentator Tucker Carlson alleged on X that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was pressing Trump to launch a nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain. Carlson offered no independently verifiable evidence for the claim, and neither the US nor Israeli government has publicly confirmed that such an option is being considered.

Trump's October statement ruling out nuclear weapons is an important distinction. His latest threat concerns a potential military strike, not an announced decision to use nuclear weapons.

For now, Washington's position remains contradictory in appearance: it is conducting limited military operations, threatening further strikes and pursuing negotiations at the same time. Whether the Doha talks produce an agreement will determine if Pickaxe Mountain remains a target in Trump's warnings or becomes the next flashpoint in the West Asia conflict.

(With inputs from ANI)