US President Donald Trump announced that Washington may strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site very soon. He said, "We may hit Pickaxe very soon. We know everybody that’s moving at Pickaxe and across Iran" during remarks on September 5 [1, 2]. Trump emphasized that the US has been carrying out intermittent strikes against Iran but currently there is "no fighting," calling the ongoing conflict “small potatoes” rather than a war [2, 3, 4]. He said, "We’re not fighting right now. There’s no fighting" [4]. Vice President JD Vance echoed this, adding, "I wouldn’t call it a war. There’s no active shooting right now" [3].
Trump claimed US efforts have prevented Iran from developing nuclear weapons: "They’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. That’s what we did" [2]. He detailed that recent strikes destroyed Iranian radar systems and an Iranian oil tanker off Kharg Island was hit by four US missiles on September 5 [3]. Kharg Island handles approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports [3]. Trump also said US forces control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, have destroyed Iranian radar and aircraft systems, and cleared mines there [4].
Iran’s air defence commander Brigadier-General Alireza Elhami responded that "The threat is not over. The country is ready for any kind of confrontation both now and in the future" [1]. Iran denies any current work at the Natanz nuclear site [3]. Diplomatic talks on Iran’s nuclear program have stalled since mid-August, when a 60-day negotiating window expired without agreement [3].
Trump added that if the US withdrew immediately from the region, it would take Iran 25 years to rebuild its capabilities [4].
The latest developments come after Trump’s Oval Office remarks on September 4 when he first described the conflict as "small potatoes" and indicated a possible imminent strike on Pickaxe Mountain [4]. The missile strike on the Iranian oil tanker occurred today, marking a continuation of targeted US actions in the region [3].
