Trump Threatens Pickaxe Mountain Site – President Donald Trump is threatening to launch a new military strike against Iran — and this time, he’s offering specifics. Trump says that Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain nuclear complex could be the target for the next round of strikes, telling Newsmax on Thursday, October 15, that U.S. conventional weapons are capable of reaching it. The president’s comments came just hours after new reports were published about the Pentagon’s plans to attack Iran using the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal.
The latest threat comes after more than seven months of war and a prior commitment by the president, earlier this month, that the United States would not launch new strikes against Iran before the November 3 midterm elections.
Aircraft from the 1st Fighter Wing conducted an Elephant Walk at Langley Air Force Base, Jan. 31, 2025, showcasing the wing’s readiness and operational agility. This demonstration highlighted the wing’s capability to mobilize forces rapidly in high-stress scenarios. The wing’s fleet includes F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons. As Air Combat Command’s lead wing, the 1 FW maintains unparalleled combat readiness to ensure national defense at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Ian Sullens)
During the interview, the president also confirmed that he was not considering deploying American ground forces or using nuclear weapons against Iran — but he did not rule out further conventional airstrikes.
And despite suggesting that more military action may still be necessary, the president also said that negotiations with Iranian officials were ongoing and that he expects the war to end soon.
Trump Says Pickaxe Mountain Could Be Destroyed Quickly
Speaking to Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on Thursday, the president described some of the complexities surrounding Iran’s remaining nuclear infrastructure and the ways in which it can be difficult to reach.
He described how much of Iran’s remaining infrastructure and assets are buried beneath mountains intended to protect them against future airstrikes.
The president said that Washington believes it can still reach the facilities under Pickaxe Mountain, which are believed to still be under construction.
The mountain, near Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, protects the remaining nuclear infrastructure under at least 100 meters (328 feet) of rock.
U.S. Air Force Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, Pacific Air Forces commander, pilots the lead F-22 Raptor rendezvousing with a C-17 Globemaster III, both from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, during a mission off the coast of O‘ahu, April 8, 2025. PACAF provides ready and lethal forces to ensure stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez)
“Now, we’re looking at Pickaxe Mountain. We may have to go there,” Trump said.
“We’ll take a shot at that one. We’ll knock it out fast.”
When asked whether the operation would require the U.S. to put troops on the ground, the president dismissed the possibility entirely, saying he does not see it happening.
The problem with sending U.S. troops to Iran is multi-pronged, with much of the danger coming from the fact that Iran’s terrain is varied and difficult to navigate by land. It also presents many opportunities for Iranian ground forces to kill American troops.
The president’s comments come after a CNN investigation, which was published on October 15, that revealed how American military planners have developed new strike packages targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and the country’s energy infrastructure.
According to that report, the proposals include attacks that could be launched either before or immediately after the midterm elections, although no final decision is believed to have been made.
Pentagon Considers MOAB
The Pentagon’s reported plans are said to include the potential deployment of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb — commonly known as the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB). The 21,600-pound weapon is the largest non-nuclear bomb in the American arsenal.
It was first used in 2017, when American forces targeted tunnels used by the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
Unlike conventional bombs that are designed to penetrate reinforced underground facilities, the MOAB causes a massive explosion that primarily affects targets that are on or near the surface.
Analysts have questioned whether the MOAB could reach 100 meters deep into rock in a mountain and successfully destroy the equipment and assets buried underneath.
However, reports have also emerged that U.S. military planners may be betting that using the MOAB could prevent access to the facility by destroying the tunnels and ensuring that there is no easy way for Iranian workers to access the site.
By bombing the tunnels, the U.S. would create a situation in which it can monitor activity around the mountain and enforce restrictions against Iran in the event that efforts are made to access the collapsed tunnels.
One source familiar with the planning told CNN that the weapon is poorly suited to penetrating deeply buried targets.
The president also did not confirm whether he had authorized the use of the weapon, but he did emphasize during the Thursday interview that the MOAB was not a nuclear weapon.
He also ruled out any possibility of using an actual nuclear bomb, arguing that conventional American military capabilities would be sufficient to achieve America’s goals.
Why Pickaxe Is Hard to Destroy
Pickaxe Mountain, known in Iran as Kuh-e Koland Gaz La, lies about two kilometers south of the Natanz uranium enrichment complex.
Iranian authorities began developing the underground facility following attacks against other parts of the country’s nuclear infrastructure.
On September 9, the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that construction at the site continued throughout 2026, including during periods of reduced hostilities between Washington and Tehran.
Satellite imagery has revealed newly reinforced tunnel entrances, concrete surfaces, and other construction activity suggesting Iran was improving the facility’s defenses.
But the complex is buried under thick layers of rock, and some underground entrances are designed to withstand incoming missiles and drones.
Time will tell, it seems, whether conventional U.S. weapons are enough to destroy it.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
