Trump Threatens "Very Strong" Strike if Iran Advances Work at "Pickaxe Mountain" Site as Hormuz Tensions Rise

BlockBeats reports that U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sept. 9 (local time) that Iran must halt any further activity at the suspected nuclear-related site known as "Pickaxe Mountain" or face a "very strong" strike. Trump said the United States has recently detected renewed "activity" at the location. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), citing recent satellite imagery analysis, said road traffic around Pickaxe Mountain has hit record levels this year, alongside a marked uptick in construction. CSIS assessed the project may be moving from underground excavation into interior build-out and reinforcement of the perimeter. Pickaxe Mountain sits about 2 kilometers from the heavily damaged Natanz nuclear facility. CSIS said it has not been able to confirm whether Iran has transferred nuclear infrastructure, including centrifuges, to the site. At the same time, the confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz is intensifying. Iran said it fired ballistic missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan and targeted 10 vessels near the strait. U.S. Central Command said it had earlier destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after two ballistic-missile attacks by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on U.S. warships. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments, and the back-to-back incidents have heightened concerns about supply disruptions. Brent crude briefly topped $100 a barrel and was last at $99.19. Trump also said the U.S.-Iran war may not end until after the November midterm elections, adding that Iran "cannot hold out much longer."