Iran • United States • Gulf • Lebanon • Yemen • Saudi Arabia
Trump Threatens to Strike Iran's Fortified Pickaxe Mountain; Tehran Vows to Hit "All US Interests"
3 min read
President Trump, during a White House press conference with Lebanon's President Aoun, issued an explicit on-record threat to strike Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang), Iran's fortified suspected uranium/centrifuge site. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya command answered immediately, vowing to hit "all US interests, allies and supporters" if nuclear sites are struck. The exchange pushes toward the war's most dangerous threshold, as the Houthi blockade on Saudi Arabia went operational and Brent broke $91.
Did the US strike deep inside Iran overnight?
- CENTCOM confirmed night-11 strikes from ~19:00 ET. Cross-bloc corroborated impacts in Tabriz, Bushehr, Kangavar, Behbahan and Omidiyeh (confirmed by deputy governor), Chabahar-Konarak, Sirik, Abhar/Zanjan, Abdanan and Urmia.
- No confirmed strike inside Tehran; the "Narmak explosion" was a gas explosion (fire dept confirmed, no casualties), falsely recycled as a strike.
- Pentagon named Sgt. Michael Swinton (30), killed at Erbil disarming an Iranian drone, the 3rd acknowledged KIA. Trump blamed Jordan for the three US deaths.
How is Iran retaliating?
- Fresh drone/missile salvos hit Ali al-Salem and Bubiyan (Kuwait) and Bahrain; Kuwait army confirmed air-defense engagement, Bahrain MoI confirmed sirens.
- IRGC statement #41 claims destruction of radars at Ali al-Salem/Bubiyan: single-source.
- A claimed Israeli-embassy-Manama hit (Channel 14) was retracted to "vicinity only"; the Sulaymaniyah Mount Goizha fire, IRGC-claimed as a strike, was called a wildfire by near-scene Rudaw/local sources. Both CONTESTED.
What is the state of the diplomatic track?
- Trump rejected the Qatar/Pakistan 10-day ceasefire (Jerusalem Post), saying Iran is "begging to meet" but the US is "not interested until... meaningful."
- Iran's interior minister Momeni met Pakistan's PM Shehbaz and army chief Munir in Islamabad on MoU-revival mediation and trade (target $3bn to $10bn).
What is the nuclear-site intelligence?
- WSJ and CNN report Israel assesses Iran moved advanced centrifuges plus part of its ~440kg 60% HEU stockpile to the fortified Pickaxe site post-June war. Trump: material tracked, "will hit very heavily soon."
- The HEU-relocation claim is Israeli-intel-origin; sourcing on all sides is interested-party.
What is happening to oil and shipping?
- Brent broke $91 (WTI ~+3% to ~$85.5). Reuters/LSEG confirmed 3-6 Saudi crude tankers (Xin Long Yang, Rodos, New Prime) U-turned in the Red Sea toward Suez; Yemeni MoD claims 6 ships turned back in 24h. Rerouting via Africa adds ~4 weeks.
- Saudi May crude exports hit a record-low 3.43mb/d (JODI). Houthi enforcement capacity remains unproven; U-turns appear insurer/owner-driven.
Is Israel joining the campaign?
- WSJ reports the US asked Israel to stay out for now; Smotrich says sitting out "serves us." But Israeli assessments say Israel is "completing final preparations" (i24/Ch12/14), interested-party framing.
- RN Intel says no unusual UK tanker/B-1 movement is visible, weakening the "B-1s inbound to bomb Pickaxe tonight" thread.
What to watch next (24-72 hours):
- Any actual strike on/near Pickaxe Mountain, Kashan, or a nuclear/Kharg site, the declared red line.
- Houthi blockade enforcement: more reroutes, or a first kinetic interception.
- Whether Momeni/Pakistan revive any ceasefire after Trump's rejection.
- Israel in or out: cabinet output and tanker basing (Ramon conversion).
- Lebanon pilot-zone: whether IDF warning-fire recurs and derails LAF deployment.