Donald Trump vows to strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain and claim guardianship of the Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump said the United States could launch a direct attack on the underground facility known as “Pickaxe Mountain,” a military complex built near Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant. He warned Tehran, stating: “We will destroy Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready!” The site is believed to house centrifuge‑assembly tunnels and is protected at depths of 80‑100 metres, making it difficult to strike even with the GBU‑57 bomb.

In the same interview, Trump asserted that the United States will become “the guardians of the strait” and may even administer the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, saying: “We will keep control of the strait and probably administer it.” He suggested the U.S. should receive compensation for safeguarding this key oil‑shipping lane. Both remarks heighten tensions between Washington and Tehran and could have implications for regional security and global oil markets.