Trump threatens new Iran strikes, eyes Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz

President Donald Trump accused the “fake news” media of wanting the United States to lose its war with Iran during a Monday interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, as he defended the military campaign and threatened another wave of strikes against Tehran.

Trump argued that Iran’s military had been decimated but continued to receive favorable news coverage.

“All they do is talk and they have fake press. They do very well with the fake press, but because the fake news wants us to lose,” Trump said.

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The president singled out The New York Times while claiming the newspaper had recently reported that Iran was in a stronger position than it had been before the U.S.-Israeli military campaign began.

“It’s not even, I mean, The New York Times, they actually said a week ago — I can’t imagine they say it now, but think of it. They have no Navy, have no Air Force, have no anything. They have no military, they have nothing,” Trump said.

He also cited what he described as surging inflation in Iran while continuing his criticism of the Times.

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“And the Times said, and their inflation, by the way, just hit 301%, from 5%. They said, ‘Oh, they’re in better shape now than they were four months ago before I started,’” Trump said.

Trump did not identify the specific Times article or author he was referencing. 

The president warned that additional American attacks were imminent following renewed exchanges of missile and drone strikes between the two countries.

“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.

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Trump specifically floated striking Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground complex near Iran’s damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

“Pickaxe is a possible, you know, a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door,” he said.

The president said American surveillance capabilities were tracking the location and claimed Iran had not resumed nuclear development there.

“We’re watching it closely. We see no activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear. 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,” Trump said.

Pickaxe Mountain contains two deeply buried tunnel complexes that experts assess may be beyond the reach of the powerful bunker-busting bombs in the U.S. arsenal, according to Reuters.

International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors had never been granted access to Pickaxe Mountain. Analysis of satellite imagery from late June showed vehicle activity near the site’s western tunnel entrances and possible continuing construction or fortification work.

Trump also argued that Iran’s leaders could not be trusted with nuclear weapons.

“And frankly, if they ever had a nuclear weapon, they’d use it within one day,” Trump said.

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Trump’s remarks came as U.S. Central Command announced that it would resume its blockade of vessels traveling to or from Iranian ports Tuesday. The military said humanitarian shipments would be allowed through but warned that force could be used against ships that failed to comply.