Trump threatens strike on Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain amid Gulf tensions
Al Jazeera reports threat targets underground nuclear complex as oil prices surge and diplomatic leverage shifts in the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Pickaxe Mountain, an underground complex in Iran associated with nuclear activities, according to a report by Al Jazeera Global News on 14 July 2026. The specific identification of the target underscores the escalating military posture of the United States as diplomatic channels in the Gulf region continue to fracture.
The announcement arrives against a backdrop of deteriorating security conditions, with the US preparing to reinstate a naval blockade on Iranian ports as the existing ceasefire unravels. This move signals a significant shift from previous diplomatic strategies, including the recent abandonment of a proposed 20 per cent toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Prior to the current escalation, Trump had proposed the toll on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. However, following calls from Gulf leaders who offered alternative investment deals in the United States in lieu of the fee, the President abandoned the plan. The decision initially caused Brent crude oil prices to dip from a high of $87 to $78 per barrel, reflecting market relief at the de-escalation of immediate financial threats.
Despite Trump’s assertion that oil is flowing like never before due to US military power, available shipping data indicates that traffic through the Strait has slowed to a two-month low. Furthermore, benchmark Brent Crude prices have since risen to four-week highs, driven by ongoing regional missile activity and market uncertainty, contradicting the narrative of unimpeded flow.
Iran’s leadership has reportedly perceived threats of invasion from Trump as empty, citing their strategic leverage regarding the Strait of Hormuz. This assessment suggests that Tehran believes it possesses sufficient deterrence capabilities to withstand pressure, even as the US moves to tighten maritime restrictions and target specific nuclear infrastructure.
The threat to Pickaxe Mountain adds a new dimension to the conflict, moving beyond economic coercion to direct military targeting of nuclear-related facilities. The exact operational status of the complex remains unclear, but the specificity of the threat indicates a heightened readiness for kinetic action as regional tensions reach a critical juncture.
