There is a particular language that leaders use when they speak of distant mountains and buried facilities, a vocabulary of precision and distance that can make the prospect of conflict sound almost clinical. In an interview with Newsmax on Thursday night, President Donald Trump employed that language when he described Pickaxe Mountain, an underground site linked to Iran's nuclear program, as a place the United States "may have to go" .
Trump said the facility is "buried under millions of tons of mountain" and that the US would "take a shot at that one" and "knock it out fast" . He also ruled out the use of nuclear weapons, saying, "I wouldn't use nuclear. We don't have to," and stated he is not considering deploying American ground troops to Iran .
The remarks come amid a broader context. The war with Iran began in February with US-Israeli strikes, and Trump has previously said he has a "big decision to make" on whether to strike a deal or "annihilate" the Islamic Republic . Reports have indicated that US military planners have developed options that could include the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the "mother of all bombs," though Trump did not confirm whether he has authorized its use .
Pickaxe Mountain is described as a fortified facility buried deep underground near one of Tehran's main nuclear sites . The challenge of targeting such a location is significant, requiring either precision munitions capable of penetrating deep rock or sustained bombardment. Trump did not provide details about the timing or method of any potential strike.
Iran's oil minister responded to the threats, warning that Tehran would respond "immediately and appropriately" to any US action against Iranian energy facilities . Trump, however, predicted the war would end soon and said Tehran was negotiating with Washington. "One way or the other, it'll end very soon," he said .
The president's comments outline a possible future operation rather than announcing a new military campaign. For now, Pickaxe Mountain remains a name mentioned in interviews, a target described in hypothetical terms, and a reminder that in this conflict, the language of distance can shift quickly into the language of action.
AI Image Disclaimer: The accompanying visual is AI-generated and does not depict the actual location or military operations described.
Sources: Reuters, The News International, Egyptian Gazette, Arab News PK, Times Now, BTA
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