WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against renewed nuclear activity after Washington detected activity around Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground complex close to Iran’s damaged Natanz uranium-enrichment facility.
Speaking at a Republican midterm convention, Trump said the United States was monitoring developments at the site and warned Tehran against attempting to rebuild capabilities there. Pickaxe Mountain contains extensive underground tunnels constructed deep beneath mountainous terrain.
The site has attracted increasing attention since attacks severely damaged other parts of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Unlike several other Iranian nuclear facilities, Pickaxe Mountain itself has not previously been directly struck.
Iran continues to maintain that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes. The latest warning comes one day after the IAEA Board of Governors referred Iran to the UN Security Council over unresolved safeguards questions and access to nuclear material.