Trump Threatens Strike on Pickaxe Mountain as Gulf Leaders Press for Diplomatic Off-Ramp
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 22
Trump Threatens Strike on Pickaxe Mountain as Gulf Leaders Press for Diplomatic Off-Ramp
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 22
Summary
At a UNGA sidelines meeting in New York, Trump told Gulf leaders the US could "blow up" Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site immediately if activity is detected, even as he said Iran is no longer pursuing a nuclear weapon.
The talks came as Trump weighs a "big decision" on the war and Gulf allies try to steer him away from a wider escalation that could expose them to more Iranian retaliation.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait face attacks on energy infrastructure, trade disruption from the Strait of Hormuz closure, and pressure to present Trump with a united, specific proposal.
The dispute also reflects a broader strain in Gulf security ties: Pentagon officials have discussed reducing US troop deployments, while Riyadh says any drawdown now would embolden Tehran and deepen doubts about Washington’s protection.
Can Gulf nations prevent a catastrophic oil crisis as Washington weighs a massive military strike?
Will a looming American military withdrawal leave the Middle East vulnerable to unprecedented nuclear escalation?
Will an impenetrable Iranian mountain fortress force the US into a devastating regional war?
Pickaxe Mountain and the 2026 Iran Crisis: Nuclear Brinkmanship, U.S. Military Limits, and the Global Fallout
Overview
After a sabotage attack on an Iranian centrifuge workshop in 2020, Iran began building the ultra-deep Pickaxe Mountain complex to protect its nuclear program. When U.S. and Israeli strikes in 2025 and 2026 destroyed Iran’s main nuclear sites, Pickaxe Mountain remained untouched, becoming the prime location for Iran to rebuild. Its extreme depth shields it from U.S. bunker-buster bombs, forcing military planners to consider riskier options. Following these strikes, Iran blocked IAEA inspections, leaving the world uncertain about its nuclear activities. This uncertainty led to new sanctions, regional conflict, economic shocks, and stalled diplomacy, with both sides hardening their positions.