Why is Trump threatening to strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain again, now?

What Happened

United States President Donald Trump has publicly threatened a military strike against the Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La) site in Iran, located 2km from the Natanz enrichment complex. This follows a reported strike by four US missiles on an Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island, as claimed by the Iranian news outlet Khabar Fouri. The threats against the underground facility, which US intelligence suggests is excavated under hundreds of metres of granite, occur amidst an ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran that began on February 28.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Pickaxe Mountain is considered a critical strategic asset because it remains largely intact following the US strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in June 2025. Analysts assess that the facility's deep-underground tunnels represent the most viable location for Iran to rebuild its centrifuge manufacturing and uranium enrichment capabilities after previous infrastructure was heavily damaged.

Watch For

Monitor for further US military activity near Kharg Island and potential escalatory responses from the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters. Additionally, observe whether the Trump administration maintains its rhetoric regarding the site as the US approaches mid-term elections, and watch for any updated satellite assessments from the Institute for Science and International Security regarding activity at the Pickaxe Mountain tunnel entrances.