Trump Says US Will Bomb Iran's Pickaxe Mountain
President Trump announced that the US military will bomb Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, a site suspected of possible nuclear activity. The president made the statement during a meeting with the president of Lebanon at the White House.
President Trump said Tuesday that the US military will bomb Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, a deep underground site that the US and Israel suspect could be used for nuclear activity. Trump's remarks signaled that he is not interested in a ceasefire at the moment and is moving towards escalating the strikes on Iran.
Trump said the US thinks Iran 'may have' stored centrifuges at the site but added, 'We don't have it on record.' Even if Iran did, 'it doesn't mean anything unless they have the [nuclear] material.' He said Iran does not. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Israel provided the US with intelligence suggesting that Iran has moved thousands of centrifuges into Pickaxe Mountain.
It is not clear whether the US military has bombs that can penetrate the rock above the deep underground facility. Nevertheless, a US strike could do damage to the site and block its entrance tunnels. Trump is nearing a fork in the Iran war, with two options he is considering: pursuing a new 10-day ceasefire or launching a massive joint military campaign with Israel to try to force Tehran to capitulate.
Go Deeper
What is Pickaxe Mountain?
Pickaxe Mountain is a deep underground site in Iran that the US and Israel suspect could be used for nuclear activity. It is believed to be a facility where Iran may be storing centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium.
Why is the US considering bombing Pickaxe Mountain?
The US is considering bombing Pickaxe Mountain because of suspicions that Iran may be using the site for nuclear activity. The US and Israel have received intelligence suggesting that Iran has moved thousands of centrifuges into the facility.
What are the two options President Trump is considering for the Iran war?
President Trump is considering two options for the Iran war: pursuing a new 10-day ceasefire aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, or launching a massive joint military campaign with Israel to try to force Tehran to capitulate.
What has been the response from Iran to the US threats?
The article does not mention a direct response from Iran to the US threats, but it does quote President Trump as saying that Iran 'want to desperately meet' with the US, and that the US has no interest in restarting negotiations until Iran is 'ready to meet in a meaningful way'.
What is the current state of the Iran war?
According to President Trump, the US is 'not finished at all' with the war, and Iran 'hasn't seen anything yet.' The president has expressed no interest in restarting negotiations with Iran, and has signaled that he is leaning towards launching a massive joint military campaign with Israel to try to force Tehran to capitulate.
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