Washington: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that the United States could strike Pickaxe Mountain after saying American authorities had detected activity at the heavily fortified underground site near Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility.
Trump made the warning on Wednesday during a speech at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas. He said the United States had noticed activity at Pickaxe Mountain and warned Tehran against further activity at the site.
The warning came as international pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme increased. On Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency board voted to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council for failing to meet its nuclear safeguards obligations.
The resolution was approved by 23 votes in favour, while Russia, China and Niger voted against it. Eight countries abstained and one member did not vote.
It was the first time in 20 years that the IAEA board had taken such action against Iran. The decision follows a long running investigation into uranium traces found at sites in Iran that had not been declared to the agency.
Western governments suspect the traces could provide evidence that Iran previously had a concealed nuclear weapons programme. Iran has denied wrongdoing and continues to say that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
The latest IAEA decision also reflects a separate dispute over access to Iran’s nuclear facilities. The agency has been unable to carry out normal verification activities at several facilities following attacks and restrictions on access.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has warned that the agency has lost continuity of knowledge about some of Iran’s previously declared nuclear material, including uranium enriched to as much as 60 percent.
Pickaxe Mountain has become a major focus of attention because of its possible connection to Iran’s nuclear programme. The site, also known as Kuh e Kolang Gaz La, is about 220 kilometres south of Tehran and around 2 kilometres from the Natanz complex.
The facility contains two deeply buried tunnel complexes. Their location beneath the mountain makes them difficult to reach and potentially difficult to destroy with conventional weapons.
Recent satellite analysis has shown a significant increase in construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain during 2026. The activity includes work around tunnel entrances, internal roads and access areas, as well as the removal of material from the construction area.
The satellite analysis cannot establish what is inside the underground facility.
Israeli intelligence has reportedly claimed that Iran moved uranium centrifuges and centrifuge components into Pickaxe Mountain. However, satellite analysis has not confirmed or disproved that claim.
Researchers have said the available imagery does not show clear evidence that the facility is currently capable of uranium enrichment. They have also said further monitoring would be needed to establish what is happening inside the underground complex.
The site has not been targeted in the major attacks on the Natanz area, according to nuclear security researchers. The nearby Natanz nuclear facility has suffered major damage during the wider conflict.
Trump has threatened to strike Pickaxe Mountain since at least July. His latest warning indicates that the site remains a possible target as Washington continues its military campaign against Iran.
The warning comes amid a sharp escalation involving oil shipping.
Iran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers. The attacks were the latest in a series of strikes involving commercial shipping during the six month conflict.
US Central Command has said American forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attempted to attack a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles. The US military said no American personnel were injured.
The fighting has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important routes for oil and gas shipments.
Brent crude remained above $100 a barrel on Thursday as traders continued to assess the risk of further disruption to energy supplies. Higher oil prices are increasing pressure on governments and consumers in countries that depend heavily on imported fuel.
The conflict has also become a major political issue in the United States ahead of the November midterm elections.
Trump said he expected the war to end immediately after the elections. He also accused Tehran of trying to influence the vote, which will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.
There is no confirmed timetable for the end of the conflict.
The United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran on February 28, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran responded with attacks on Israel and Gulf countries that host US military bases.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran, together with Israeli attacks on Lebanon, have killed thousands and displaced millions of people, according to reports on the conflict.
The continuing fighting has also created wider risks for the Middle East and the global economy, particularly because of the disruption to energy supplies and shipping routes.
Trump has said that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is one of the main objectives of the US military campaign. Iran says it does not possess nuclear weapons and maintains that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes.
The latest IAEA decision has added to the pressure on Tehran, but it does not by itself resolve the central questions surrounding Iran’s nuclear material and activities.
For now, there is no confirmation that the United States has struck Pickaxe Mountain.
What is known is that construction activity has increased around the underground facility, international inspectors have limited access to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and concern over the country’s nuclear programme remains high.
Any attack on Pickaxe Mountain could further widen the conflict and add to pressure on an already disrupted regional energy market.