Trump hints at fresh strike on Iran nuclear site
Washington, July 14
US President Donald Trump has indicated that another Iranian nuclear facility could soon become a target of American military action, saying the site known as Pickaxe Mountain remains under close surveillance and is "on the list" for possible strikes.
The remarks, made during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, came as the Trump administration intensified military pressure on Tehran while insisting it would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
Asked whether any future agreement with Iran would require international inspectors to verify activities at Pickaxe Mountain, Trump said the United States was already closely monitoring the site.
"They don't have it because we have eyes, you know, with the -- with Space Force and everything else, we have a lot of eyes on it. But Pickaxe is possible, you know, a possible target for a nice, big, fat shot right in the front door."
He added that military planners continued to monitor the facility.
"No, it is on the list. We're watching it closely. We see no activity there. They're not doing well with their nuclear situation. Every time we hear about it, we blow it up, so they don't like talking about it. But we'll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon."
Trump also accused Iran of abandoning negotiations after an agreement had appeared within reach.
"We had a deal where we won everything and they basically break the deals. You know, they make deals and, to them, deals are made to be broken. They are extremely unreliable people."
He described the Iranian leadership as "stone-cold, crazy people" and argued that Tehran would use a nuclear weapon if it acquired one.
"If they ever had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it within one day."
The President declined to discuss possible action against individual members of Iran's leadership but suggested Washington retained detailed intelligence.
"Yeah, I do, and -- but we don't want to talk about that."
Trump also claimed Iran's conventional military capabilities had been largely destroyed.
"They don't have it because we have eyes," he said, before adding elsewhere in the interview, "They have no air force, they have no Navy, they have no nothing."
During remarks at the White House earlier in the day, Trump reiterated that the United States remained committed to preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
"Iran will not have a nuclear weapon."
He also maintained that negotiations had not been abandoned despite renewed military operations.
"Yeah, I think a deal is possible. Sure, I do."
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm from the US, but I've been following this closely. The President's approach seems to be "talk tough and bomb first, negotiate later." But you can't keep bombing a nation and then expect them to come to the table in good faith. This is going to escalate things, not solve them. India and other nations should be working behind the scenes to de-escalate before this spirals out of control.
The man says "they make deals, and to them, deals are made to be broken" — pot calling the kettle black? 😅 Remember the JCPOA that he unilaterally withdrew from in 2018? That was a perfectly good deal verified by IAEA inspectors. Now he's back to threatening to bomb random mountains. India should definitely not be dragged into any US-Iran conflict. Our diaspora in the Gulf and our oil imports are at stake.
I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, Iran's nuclear ambitions are a legitimate concern for the entire world, including India. We share a border with Pakistan and we know what nuclear proliferation in the neighborhood looks like. On the other hand, this cowboy-style diplomacy with threats of "nice big fat shots" is not how responsible nations behave. There must be a middle path through the UN and diplomatic channels.
As an American living in India, I'm ashamed. This is not how we should be conducting diplomacy. The constant threats, the childish name-calling ("stone-cold, crazy people"), and the contradictory statements about negotiations being possible while also promising to "blow it up" — it's exhausting and terrifying. India's own policy of strategic autonomy makes sense here. Don't pick sides.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.