Full Breakdown
Trump Threatens Immediate Strike on Iran’s “Pickaxe Mountain” Nuclear Site
7/14/2026, 12:14:30 PM
Core Event
On July 13, 2026, President Donald Trump announced on the *Hugh Hewitt Show* that the United States would “take out Pickaxe Mountain” and warned Iran to “be ready.” The statement came as U.S. forces launched a third consecutive night of strikes against Iran and reinstated a naval blockade of Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Background & Context
Pickaxe Mountain—known in Farsi as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La—is a heavily fortified underground complex situated near the damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility in the Zagros Mountains. The site was not among the three Iranian nuclear facilities struck by the United States in June 2025. A fragile U.S.–Iran cease-fire, agreed on April 7-8, 2026, collapsed after U.S. strikes on approximately 90 Iranian military targets on July 8, prompting renewed hostilities and reciprocal attacks on commercial vessels.
Data & Statistics
- Depth: Reported burial depths vary widely: up to 2,000 feet (? 600 m) beneath granite (Reuters); 80-100 meters (? 260-330 feet) (ECiks); and 600 meters (? 1,970 feet) (The National).
- Construction: Satellite imagery from 2020 onward shows extensive excavation and tunnel work; analysts suspect the complex may house uranium-enrichment capabilities and stockpiles.
- Previous strikes: The June 2025 operation targeted Natanz, Khondab, Isfahan, and Ardakan facilities but omitted Pickaxe Mountain.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Central Command said the latest strikes “will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.” The command also confirmed that American forces began strikes “for the third consecutive night.” Iranian state television reported explosions in the Bandar Abbas area and near Kish Island following the U.S. attacks.
Criticism & Opposition
Defense analysts caution that the United States’ most powerful bunker-buster bomb, the GBU-57, may be unable to penetrate a facility buried at the reported depths. Weapons experts highlighted uncertainty about the site’s vulnerability, noting that even the deepest-penetrating ordnance might fall short of destroying a structure located several hundred meters underground.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources disagree on the exact depth of Pickaxe Mountain, ranging from 80-100 meters to 600 meters (? 2,000 feet). Additionally, while President Trump asserted “no activity” at the site, satellite images released two months earlier showed “suspicious movement” and blocked tunnel entrances, leaving the current operational status unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready. Okay, there’s nothing they can do about it,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “We’re going to hit them very hard tonight and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow. And there’s not a damn thing they can do about it,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” — U.S. Central Command
What’s Next
President Trump indicated that a strike on Pickaxe Mountain could occur “relatively soon,” while the United States maintains its blockade of Iranian shipping and continues nightly air operations. No specific timeline for a potential attack was provided, leaving the situation in a state of heightened uncertainty.
