Trump says U.S. may need to strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site and keep MOAB option open
President Donald Trump told Newsmax on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, that the United States may need to strike Pickaxe Mountain, a heavily fortified underground site believed to play a key role in Iran’s nuclear program.
Trump said the target could be hit quickly, adding that the U.S. could "take a shot" at the complex and "knock it out fast." He also declined to rule out the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, popularly known as the MOAB, saying it is not a nuclear weapon but "like a tiny nuclear bomb."
The comments arrived amid reports that Saudi Arabia’s military intercepted multiple missiles and drones aimed at its forces and infrastructure, and as fighting continued in Yemen, including a deadly Houthi attack on the presidential palace in Aden and ongoing combat around the city of Taiz.
Iran’s army chief, General Mohammad Akraminia, posted on X that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen if U.S. forces withdrew, suggesting a possible de‑escalation scenario if American troops leave the region.
U.S. officials have not confirmed any order to launch a strike, and a Pentagon spokesperson said the department has prepared a range of operational scenarios, including plans that involve the MOAB. The weapon, weighing about 21,600 pounds, is the largest non‑nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal and was first used in combat in 2017 against an ISIS tunnel complex in Afghanistan.
Trump reiterated that any U.S. attack would not involve nuclear weapons, emphasizing that the MOAB is “just an extremely large bomb.” He also warned that the United States keeps all options on the table to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Energy markets reacted to the heightened tension, with Brent crude trading near $106 a barrel and U.S. fuel prices reported at $4.33 per gallon for regular gasoline and $6.33 per gallon for diesel.
While the President’s statements signal a hardening stance, the Pentagon’s contingency plans remain under review, and no formal authorization for a strike has been disclosed.
