Trump warns the US could strike Iran’s fortified Pickaxe Mountain site soon, while Washington balances military pressure, economic measures and efforts to avoid wider escalation, reports Asian Lite News Desk
US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could strike Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “very soon”, as he played down the scale of the ongoing conflict.
Pickaxe Mountain, located near the severely damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, contains two deeply buried tunnel complexes and is considered one of Iran’s heavily fortified sites.
Trump made the comments on Friday while responding to Vice President JD Vance’s description of the conflict as a “military conflict” rather than a war.
“A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us,” Trump told reporters, arguing that the United States had previously carried out larger operations.
His remarks came as Washington weighs further military action alongside economic pressure on Tehran. Iran has so far resisted US demands, while tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly signalled possible escalation before easing threats or pointing to negotiations, particularly when markets have reacted nervously.
Aaron David Miller of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said the administration appeared determined to avoid both a wider war and major concessions to Iran.
