Trump threatens strike on Iranian nuclear-linked site as Houthis widen Red Sea shipping confrontation

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to launch a new strike on a heavily fortified Iranian site linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme and warned that Washington would respond decisively if Yemen’s Houthis followed through on their threat to disrupt Saudi shipping in the Red Sea. Speaking alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during a meeting at the White House, Trump said the United States could strike Pickaxe Mountain, near Iran’s damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility, “very soon.” He warned that Washington would target any nuclear facility Iran attempted to reactivate, reiterating that Tehran would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. Trump has previously threatened to destroy the mountain complex, which contains deeply buried tunnel networks believed to be connected to Iran’s nuclear programme. The US president said recent American strikes had significantly degraded Iran’s capabilities but stressed that Washington was “not finished” with Tehran. He added that back-channel contacts between the two sides were continuing and claimed Iran wanted to resume talks. However, he said the United States would only engage if Tehran was prepared to enter meaningful negotiations. Trump’s remarks came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely disrupted and the United States and Iran continued exchanging attacks following the collapse of an interim ceasefire reached last month. He also dismissed suggestions that the turmoil in the strategic waterway could affect the upcoming US midterm elections. Turning to the Red Sea, Trump said the United States would “take care of” the Houthis if the Iran-backed group carried out its threat to impose a naval blockade on Saudi ports or commercial shipping. The Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on Monday, raising the prospect of a new front in the regional conflict and further disruption to oil exports and commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Shipping data showed that two tankers carrying Saudi crude oil to China and India reversed course in the Red Sea and headed towards the Suez Canal following the Houthi warning. Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet said the kingdom would take firm measures to protect its security and maritime interests in accordance with international law, while condemning what it described as false Houthi claims. Egypt also condemned the threats and expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, warning that any further escalation could endanger international shipping, global trade and regional stability. The confrontation also spread across the Gulf on Tuesday, with Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan reporting that their air defence systems had intercepted Iranian missiles or drones. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted US military facilities at Kuwait’s Ahmed Al-Jaber and Ali Al-Salem air bases, as Iran and the United States continued exchanging attacks on military sites across the Gulf and Jordan. Kuwait summoned Iran’s ambassador to protest what it described as an attack on a Kuwaiti oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz that injured several crew members. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis continued. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged both Washington and Tehran to exercise restraint during talks with Iran’s interior minister, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to mediating between the two sides. During his meeting with Aoun, Trump said US-Lebanese relations remained strong and pledged to help Lebanon address its economic and security challenges. He also said he would be willing to speak with Hezbollah if requested by the Lebanese president. Aoun’s visit comes as Beirut seeks US support for a plan that would see the Lebanese army deploy across southern Lebanon, Hezbollah disarm, and Israeli forces withdraw from the area.