Trump Signals Continued Military Pressure on Iran

President Trump stated on Tuesday that the U.S. is “not at all done” with Iran, indicating that military action against the nation’s fortified nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain could happen “soon.” He hinted that the administration is more inclined toward expanding military operations instead of engaging in negotiations.

His comments came during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, where he addressed a query regarding reports from Israeli intelligence. This report suggested that Iran moved numerous high-powered centrifuges to an underground site at Pickaxe Mountain last fall.

When discussing this development, Trump remarked, “I think that might be the case,” but he emphasized that without the right materials, these centrifuges wouldn’t be effective in advancing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “If they don’t have the material, there’s no point. They don’t have the material. We follow the material. There’s action.”

He suggested that the military might soon act in that region, saying, “Normally I wouldn’t say that…But we will soon have a very serious impact on that area.”

Pickaxe Mountain has garnered significant attention from both U.S. and Israeli officials due to its extensive underground capabilities. Reports indicate that Iran has moved advanced centrifuges there, yet foreign inspectors have repeatedly sought more access amid concerns of undeclared nuclear activities.

Moreover, Trump indicated that any attempts by Iran to reconstruct its nuclear operations could provoke further U.S. strikes. “What about these people? They’re in this situation because of nuclear weapons…We’re going to attack that site,” he stated. “We’re going to hit very hard where they’re even thinking about nuclear.”

He reinforced that the U.S. campaign against Iran is far from over, suggesting that it could take decades for Iran to recover from the damage caused by the U.S. actions. “If we leave now, it will take 20 to 25 years to rebuild Iran,” he declared. “We’re not done at all…we’re not leaving any time soon.”

Trump also dismissed any notions that the U.S. might shift towards diplomatic solutions, arguing that Tehran’s interest in dialogue stems from ongoing military pressure. “They are dying out…We’re not interested until they’re ready to meet in a meaningful way,” he added.

As military operations against Iran’s infrastructure continue, U.S. Central Command has announced further actions targeting various military capabilities associated with Iran’s ambitions, including missile and drone operations, air defense systems, and infrastructure related to intercepting commercial shipping.

In response to inquiries about Iran’s remaining capabilities, Trump affirmed that his administration would keep a close watch on Tehran’s nuclear assets while enforcing military pressure. “We are degrading nuclear material to a level that no one thought possible,” he noted.

He concluded with a warning that the U.S. is ready to escalate operations if Iran attempts to revive its nuclear efforts, asserting, “If we leave today, it will take decades to rebuild. I don’t believe they can rebuild. To be honest, they haven’t seen anything yet. They’ve been nice to us.”