Trump vows to destroy Iranian nuke site, says Israel wouldn’t exist without Netanyahu

President Trump announces plans to bomb underground Iranian nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain, while touting strong relationship with Israel’s prime minister.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump said Monday that American forces would target Iran’s deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain complex and carry out another round of heavy strikes against the country, while defending his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready,” Trump said during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.

Also known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, Pickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified underground complex near Iran’s damaged Natanz uranium-enrichment facility. The site contains two tunnel systems built deep beneath the mountain and was not among the three Iranian nuclear facilities struck by US B-2 bombers last year.

Trump said US surveillance had not detected renewed nuclear activity at the complex but indicated that it remained on Washington’s target list.

“We’re watching Pickaxe Mountain closely. We see no activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear situation. Every time we hear about it, we blow it up. So they don’t like talking about it. But we’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon,” he said.

Trump also promised immediate additional attacks as US and Iranian forces exchanged strikes following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire arrangement.

“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight and we’re going to hit them hard tomorrow. And there’s not a damn thing they can do about it,” Trump said.

US Central Command subsequently said American forces had completed another wave of attacks against Iranian coastal-defense systems, missile and drone installations and maritime capabilities. The operation marked the third consecutive night of renewed US strikes against Iran.

The escalation followed disputes over a memorandum of understanding intended to reduce hostilities and create a framework for a broader US-Iranian agreement. Iran and the United States have accused one another of violating the arrangement, particularly over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli officials and commentators have expressed concern that the memorandum could restrict Israel’s freedom to act against Iran or leave parts of Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure intact.

Asked whether the agreement had damaged his relationship with Netanyahu, Trump rejected the suggestion.

“No, not at all. I get along with him very well. Sometimes I disagree with him, and I let it be known, and I’ve been right. But, no, I think he’s good. Look, he is a war-time prime minister. He has done a good job,” Trump said.

Trump argued that his partnership with Netanyahu had been essential to Israel’s survival, particularly because of the joint American-Israeli campaign against Iran.

“If I wasn’t around, or if Bibi wasn’t around, and especially the combination, Israel would not exist today,” he said.

“We wouldn’t have hit them with the B-2 bombers. You know, they were going to have a nuclear weapon within two weeks — had I not hit them… within two to four weeks they would have had a nuclear weapon. And once they had a nuclear weapon, they would have used it. And you wouldn’t even have Israel around. No, Bibi is good.”

Asked whether another Israeli political figure might be better suited than Netanyahu to lead the country, Trump said he was unfamiliar with many of the prime minister’s potential rivals.

“I don’t know most of them, I know some of them, obviously, but I don’t know most of them,” he said.

Trump nevertheless emphasized the importance of strong Israeli leadership during the continuing regional conflicts.

“If we had somebody weak over there, Israel would not exist today,” he said.

Hewitt also asked whether Israel should resume or intensify operations to eliminate Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Trump did not directly endorse new Israeli offensives. Instead, he said progress had been made toward disarming Hamas, while acknowledging that the terrorist organization might not ultimately comply.

“A lot of progress was made with Hamas, and they are disarming. That doesn’t mean they are going to. But a lot of progress was made. And don’t forget, I got all the hostages back,” Trump said.

His comments came as the United States intensified military pressure on Iran following renewed attacks on commercial shipping and American targets in the region.

Trump separately announced that Washington was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping and would seek to guarantee passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway carries a major share of the world’s oil and natural-gas shipments.

Benjamin NetanyahuDonald TrumpIranIran warPickaxe Mountain