An Iranian state media correspondent, Morteza Ghoroghi of IRIB, claimed the United States asked Iran for permission to strike the Pickaxe Mountain underground site near Natanz without Iranian retaliation. He said Iran rejected the request and that recent statements by President Trump pointed to possible conflict soon, with Iranian forces on high alert.
The claim has not been confirmed by US officials or independent Western news outlets. In a Newsmax interview, Trump said the US may need to target the deeply buried facility, which is linked to Iran’s nuclear program, and “knock it out fast.” He ruled out nuclear weapons and ground troops.
Pickaxe Mountain remains under construction in hard rock and has not been struck in previous US-Israeli operations.