The American President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric towards Iran, threatening to target the nuclear facilities built beneath the so-called 'Axe Mountain', while American strikes on Iranian targets continue for the third consecutive night, amid diminishing chances of diplomatic success between Washington and Tehran.

Trump said in an interview with an American radio program that the United States "will eliminate the nuclear facilities under Axe Mountain," considering the site a "potential target for a big and strong strike." He added that military operations against Iran may last between two to three weeks, accusing Tehran of failing to comply with to the memorandum of understanding previously reached between the two sides.

The American President asserted that his country is closely monitoring the site, noting that he does not see any current activity within it, but stressed that the United States will not allow Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, saying that Tehran "would use a nuclear weapon within a day if it obtained one." He also said that Iran's military capabilities had been significantly weakened, considering that the Iranian regime has suffered significant blows.

Trump's statements coincided with Iranian reports of hearing explosions in Bandar Abbas, Konarak, and Chabahar, as well as the activation of air defenses in the south of the country, while Iranian media announced that an American drone had been shut down, at a time when Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the nature of the targeted sites.

What is 'Axe Mountain'?

The 'Axe Mountain' has emerged in recent months as one of the most mysterious and heavily fortified Iranian nuclear sites. According to experts' estimates and Western reports, the site is located near the Natanz nuclear facility, and is built inside a granite mountain at a depth of more than, according to some estimates, 100 meters below the surface, making it more protected than the famous Fordow Uranium enrichment facility.

Axe Mountain Facility

Available information suggests that the facility has at least four tunnel entrances, compared to only two at the Fordow facility, which gives it greater resilience against aerial attacks, including American bunker-busting bombs. It is also believed that the site may be dedicated to uranium enrichment or to housing parts of the Iranian nuclear program away from the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Analysts believe that the site could become the main pillar of the Iranian nuclear program in the future if quantities of enriched uranium are transferred to it, making it one of the most prominent targets of any potential military escalation between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other.

Trump's statements come amidst escalating military confrontation between Washington and Tehran, following the collapse of the ceasefire that followed the last war. The two sides have exchanged strikes targeting military sites and ships in the Gulf region, raising concerns that the conflict could expand in the coming period.