Washington, July 15: US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will launch fresh military strikes if Iran shows any activity at its Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, signalling continued military vigilance over Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said the United States is closely monitoring the Pickaxe Mountain facility through US Space Force surveillance systems after reports suggested possible activity at the site. He stated that even limited movement would prompt an immediate American response.
Trump said the surveillance capabilities being used are monitoring the facility continuously, adding that other Iranian nuclear sites previously targeted by the United States also remain under observation. He asserted that any move detected at the site would trigger military action.
The remarks come as questions continue over Iran’s nuclear programme and the status of facilities targeted in previous US military operations.
During the interview, Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst referred to concerns raised by some weapons experts over whether US bunker-buster bombs were capable of penetrating deeply enough to destroy the Pickaxe Mountain facility. Responding to the query, Trump maintained that the United States possesses weapons capable of reaching deeply buried targets.
At the same time, Trump acknowledged that it remains unclear whether Iran is currently carrying out any nuclear-related activity at the Pickaxe site. He said surveillance has detected very little movement but reiterated that the United States is prepared to respond if activity increases.
The interview also focused on the Taleghan nuclear facility near Tehran, another location previously struck by the United States. Satellite images dated June 22 and July 7, shown during the interview, reportedly indicated the presence of trucks, cranes and what appeared to be freshly poured concrete at the site.
Trump said he had been informed that concrete had been used to seal the entrances to the facility following the earlier US strikes. He added that the United States retains the capability to carry out another attack on the site within a short period if required.
Referring to Operation Epic Fury, Trump said he had ordered B-2 bomber strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities on February 28, claiming Iran had been close to acquiring a nuclear weapon before the operation. He asserted that the strikes prevented Tehran from reaching that objective.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful purposes. However, its uranium enrichment activities and restrictions on international monitoring continue to remain central issues in its long-running dispute with the United States and several Western countries.
