Trump left little doubt about his intentions when discussing the site.
“We’ll be hitting that area very, probably pretty soon. And there’s not a thing they can do about it, and there’s not a thing they can do about it,” Trump said.
The president emphasized that he typically avoids publicly discussing military operations before they occur. However, he suggested that Iran would be unable to effectively respond or prevent an attack.
“If I thought they could do something about it, I would never say that. But we’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily,” he added.
The comments reinforced statements Trump made earlier during an appearance on Hugh Hewitt’s radio program, where he delivered a direct warning to Tehran.
“We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready,” Trump said during the interview.
On Tuesday, Trump expanded on those remarks while addressing reports that Iran may have transferred nuclear centrifuges into the underground facility.
While acknowledging the reports, Trump argued that the equipment itself is not the primary concern.
“We follow the material. That’s where the action is,” he said before again confirming that the area would be struck “very heavily.”
The exchange with reporters highlighted Trump’s focus on tracking nuclear material rather than merely targeting machinery.
Reporter: Do you believe that Iran has moved nuclear centrifuges into Pickaxe Mountain? And when you say we’re not done yet, what is left to finish?
Trump: Well, I think that they, they may have— We don’t have it on record. All we do is read the fake news. You know… So, you know, maybe this one they have right. But it’s okay. It doesn’t mean anything unless they have the material. You’re talking about the centrifuges. Yeah, it doesn’t mean anything unless they have the material. They don’t have.
We follow the material. That’s where the action is, and we’ll be hitting that area very, probably pretty soon, and there’s not a thing they can do about it. You know, normally I wouldn’t say that. If I thought they could do something about it, I would never say that. But we’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily.
The renewed attention on Pickaxe Mountain follows reports that Israeli intelligence agencies have been closely monitoring activity at the location for well over a year.
According to reporting cited by the Times of Israel, Israeli officials believe Iran transferred thousands of nuclear centrifuges into the underground site, placing them in a location designed to withstand conventional airstrikes.
The assessment reportedly was shared with U.S. officials and stems from intelligence gathered after the 12-day conflict in June 2025, when American and Israeli forces carried out attacks against several Iranian nuclear facilities.
Despite extensive operations targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Pickaxe Mountain was reportedly left untouched during those strikes. Since then, intelligence officials have observed continued construction activity, vehicle traffic, and ongoing development around the site.
Analysts believe the location’s deep underground design could make it one of the most challenging targets within Iran’s nuclear network. The mountain has long drawn attention from Western security experts because of its potential role in protecting sensitive nuclear assets from attack.
Questions remain about where the centrifuges allegedly originated. Reports indicate the equipment may have been relocated from other nuclear facilities throughout Iran, though officials have not publicly confirmed the exact source.
Trump’s latest comments are likely to intensify already high tensions between Washington and Tehran. By openly discussing plans for a future strike and specifically naming the target, the president has placed Pickaxe Mountain at the center of the ongoing confrontation over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Whether military action comes in the days ahead remains to be seen, but Trump’s message was unmistakable: the administration believes the site remains a significant concern, and the president appears prepared to act.
