In a bold and unexpected move, former President Donald Trump directly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. As conversations about Iran’s nuclear capabilities heat up, Trump announced intentions to dismantle Iran’s last nuclear stronghold, deeply entrenched in a mountainside. This came amid frustrations that Netanyahu publicly disclosed plans to confront Trump with evidence of Iran’s ongoing nuclear activities at the secretive Pickaxe Mountain facility. “I don’t need Bibi to tell me that,” Trump stated to Fox News ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu at the Oval Office. “Bibi is briefing me just to keep me engaged,” he added.
Trump rebukes Netanyahu over public grievances
The former President further advised Netanyahu against making public grievances, favoring private discussions instead. “I heard Bibi announce it, and I was like, ‘Why tell the world? Just tell me privately,’” Trump expressed. His stance on Iran was unequivocally stern; without a deal to halt Iran’s nuclear pursuits and clear the Strait of Hormuz, Trump vowed decisive action against the mountain facility. “I’m well aware of what happens at Pickaxe. It’s manageable. We’ve neutralized their nuclear sites before, and Pickaxe will meet the same fate if diplomacy fails,” he affirmed.
Netanyahu brings Iran tunnel intel to Trump
Known locally as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, Pickaxe Mountain harbors a labyrinth of tunnels nestled near Iran’s Natanz enrichment location. Buried so profoundly, experts question the efficacy of even the most potent U.S. bunker-busting arsenal. Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, coinciding with Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral—a staunch Israel advocate—is stirring talk in intelligence circles. The key focus is Israel’s assertion of centrifuges being moved clandestinely into Pickaxe shortly after the U.S.-Iran memorandum was enacted.
Iran denies nuclear activity at disputed site
Iran, however, firmly denies any nuclear activity at this site, dismissing American media reports of accelerated construction since 2025. Trump has previously acknowledged sparing the site during conflicts, citing inadequate evidence of its nuclear utilization. In recent dialogues, he noted potential centrifuge movement but minimized its significance without uranium. Escalated tensions have existed since early July after a brief ceasefire ended, with U.S. operations paused recently after an intensive period of bombardment.
Tensions erupt as attacks escalate
The genesis of heightened hostilities saw Iran sealing the Persian Gulf by targeting maritime routes, slashing traffic by roughly 70%, and propelling global oil prices near $100 per barrel. Concurrently, Trump directed American forces to incapacitate Iranian-bound tankers and threatened infrastructural damage for every assault on shipping. Iran answered with fierce retaliation, employing drones and missiles on U.S. targets within the Middle East, tragically claiming the lives of at least four American soldiers.
