Breaking
President Donald Trump is facing outside pressure to consider direct action against a deeply buried Iranian nuclear site near Natanz, according to Newsmax, which cited reporting from The New York Times. The focus is a fortified facility called Pickaxe Mountain, described as deeply buried and heavily protected. The report says some Iran hawks are discussing even a risky special-forces operation to destroy the site, underscoring how seriously the threat is being taken.
The urgency comes as Iran’s nuclear program remains at the center of tensions with the United States. Newsmax reports that Iran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is just short of weapons-grade. Trump has said preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was a key justification for the conflict, while Iran continues to insist its program is for civilian use.
Details & Background
According to the Newsmax report, there is uncertainty about what exactly Iran plans to do at Pickaxe Mountain and whether it has all the necessary equipment after strikes on its nuclear program in June 2025. Even so, analysts cited in the report warned that the scale and location of the site raise concerns that it could be used for uranium enrichment or other sensitive nuclear work. One White House ally even reportedly floated the idea of injecting the underground halls with chemical contaminants, showing how unconventional some of the discussions have become.
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Newsmax also reported that Trump told Reuters the United States would work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to America. That points to a second track alongside military pressure: denying Tehran control over the material that could push it closer to a weapon. The broader strategic question is whether diplomacy and enforcement can truly eliminate the threat, or whether a hardened underground complex like Pickaxe Mountain will keep pressure on the administration to act more decisively.
Reactions
The experts cited in the report offered sharply different emphases, even though they agreed the site is dangerous. Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argued that any negotiated settlement should require the full, verified and permanent dismantlement of all enrichment plants. She also warned against allowing Iran to combine highly enriched uranium with a facility that may be beyond the reach of bunker-buster weapons.
Others stressed how difficult the problem is, even if the threat is real. Joseph Cirincione, described in the report as a longtime arms-control expert critical of Trump’s policies, said, The concern is real, but added, The problem is doing anything about it. Blaise Misztal of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America said Pickaxe Mountain is deeper and bigger and more fortified than Fordo and warned it could be a place where Iran plans to sprint to weapons-grade enrichment.
Why This Matters to You
This story matters because Iran’s nuclear ambitions are not a distant regional issue. A regime with access to near-weapons-grade uranium, protected underground infrastructure, and open hostility toward the United States and its allies creates direct consequences for American national security. It affects military readiness, energy markets, global stability, and the safety of U.S. personnel across the region.
It also matters because the pressure on Trump reflects a larger test of American resolve. The government has to decide whether to rely on containment, negotiated dismantlement, or a harder edge of deterrence backed by force. Whatever path is chosen, the objective should be unmistakable: Iran cannot be allowed to hide a nuclear breakout capability inside a mountain and dare the world to stop it. The consequences of getting that calculation wrong would not stay overseas for long.
