Trump hints at possible strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, rules out nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain. He also indicated that Washington was unlikely to deploy ground troops for the operation. Trump made the remarks in an interview with Newsmax. He also ruled out the use of nuclear weapons against Iran.

Trump said the US wanted to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. He also claimed that Iran would have used such weapons if it had possessed them.

"Iran's nuclear facility is buried under millions of tonnes of rock and soil. We are now also considering Pickaxe Mountain. We may have to go there and strike the facility. We will destroy it quickly," Trump said.

However, Trump did not confirm earlier reports that the US was considering using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb in an attack on Iran. He stressed that the weapon, popularly known as the 'Mother of All Bombs', was not a nuclear bomb.

CNN reported on Thursday, citing US officials, that plans had been drawn up to use the MOAB against Iran's energy infrastructure and nuclear facilities, including the site at Pickaxe Mountain.