WASHINGTON — The United States military carried out airstrikes against Iran for the eleventh consecutive night on Tuesday, intensifying a conflict that reignited following the breakdown of an interim memorandum of understanding.

 

Strategic Military Operations and Shipping Protection

US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the ongoing air campaign aims to neutralize threats to commercial navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Recent operations have systematically targeted Iranian military logistics infrastructure, command centers, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and maritime capabilities.

 

The renewed hostilities follow accusations by Washington that Iranian forces have targeted more than 30 commercial vessels traversing the vital waterway over a three-month period.

 

While regional allied air defense systems—including those in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan—have actively intercepted incoming retaliatory drone and missile fire, maritime traffic management groups report that regional commercial shipping continues to face severe disruptions and route alterations.

 

Threats to Pickaxe Mountain

During an Oval Office meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, President Donald Trump issued a strong warning that the United States is preparing to target Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La), an underground nuclear site located near the Natanz enrichment complex.

 

  • Intelligence Assessments: Recent intelligence findings suggest that Iran may have transferred thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges into the deeply buried mountain tunnels.

  • White House Stance: President Trump asserted that the administration is closely monitoring the facility and indicated that a heavy strike could occur imminently, dismissing Tehran's capacity to counter such an operation.

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  • Regional Warnings: In response, Iran's Khatam Al-Anbiya central military command warned that any direct strike on its nuclear or sensitive infrastructure would significantly widen the regional conflict, threatening powerful retaliatory assaults against American and allied interests.

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Legislative and Financial Pressures

Appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported that the cumulative cost of the military campaign has climbed to approximately $37.5 billion. Hegseth cautioned lawmakers that routine military readiness and training programs face imminent curtailment unless an emergency funding package is approved.

 

For more details on the planned military operations and regional escalation, you can watch this report on Trump's statement regarding Pickaxe Mountain.