Iran says it has 'sufficient cards' as Trump warns Tehran not to 'get cute' over nuclear site

TEHRAN, IRAN: Iran, on Friday, September 18, responded to President Donald Trump's latest warning over its nuclear facilities with a message of defiance, saying Tehran still has several options available despite mounting pressure from the United States.

The statement came as fresh satellite imagery pointed to additional defensive measures around an underground nuclear-linked site that Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike.

Tehran responds to Trump's threat

Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, said that the country was not without options while speaking about the pressure on its nuclear program during Operation Epic Fury.

“If you are under attack, you have all the cards at your disposal to defend yourself. Therefore, we have more than one card. Of course, we have sufficient cards and options,” Kamalvandi was quoted by Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

He added that Iran’s position was not based only on the measures it could take, but also on its determination to withstand the pressure.

“But beyond these options, we have the resolve, a strong resolve to defend our country,” he said. “And of course, regardless of how much pressure they exert on us, we will overcome this situation.”

The remarks represent Tehran’s latest public response to the military pressure surrounding its nuclear infrastructure.

Trump issues warning over Pickaxe Mountain

Trump’s warning was directed in particular at Pickaxe Mountain, an underground facility near Iran’s Natanz nuclear complex.

New satellite imagery has shown additional soil and earthen barriers around entrances to the deeply buried site.

Imagery from September 11, reviewed by the Institute for Science and International Security, showed roadblocks still restricting access to the western tunnel portals.

Additional earth had also been placed over one of the entrances, potentially providing greater protection against aerial attacks.

The institute said the restricted access suggested the facility was not being used for normal operations, although equipment or materials could still be inside.

Trump referred to activity at the site on September 9.

“We notice there’s a little activity at Pickaxe,” he said. “I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard.”

The president has previously said the United States knows what is happening at Pickaxe Mountain and has suggested that Washington could target the facility if diplomatic efforts fail.

Pickaxe Mountain is located roughly two kilometers from Natanz and contains several entrances into an underground complex.

The depth of the site has made it a particular focus of debate over whether conventional airstrikes could effectively destroy it. Iran has maintained that no nuclear activity is taking place there.