US President Donald Trump has stepped back from escalating military confrontation with Iran, acknowledging that Washington has detected no movement of Iranian nuclear materials to other locations and revealing that a closely monitored nuclear site known as “Pickaxe Mountain” is showing no signs of activity.
Speaking early Monday in remarks reported by CBS News, Trump said US authorities were closely monitoring Iran’s nuclear facilities but had found no evidence that Tehran had relocated its nuclear materials.
“We know exactly what is happening at Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, and there is no activity there,” Trump said.
The remarks signal a more cautious approach from Washington as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue, with Trump indicating that further military escalation is not currently justified.
“I see no reason for us to escalate the war against Iran at the moment,” he added.
From Military Threats to Diplomacy: Trump Signals a Shift
Trump’s latest statements follow earlier remarks in which he played down the possibility of renewed US military strikes against Iran, linking Washington’s next steps to progress in ongoing negotiations.
According to CNN, the American president said it was highly unlikely that he would authorise additional attacks on Iran as long as negotiations aimed at ending the conflict continued to advance.
However, Trump stopped short of ruling out military action entirely, making clear that his decision would ultimately depend on whether Tehran agreed to terms acceptable to Washington.
“It depends on whether they sign a very good deal or not,” Trump said.
He added that further attacks were “highly unlikely” to be necessary.
The statements place renewed attention on the diplomatic process, with Washington’s willingness to avoid further military action tied to the outcome of negotiations.
Trump’s acknowledgement that no Iranian nuclear materials have been detected moving to alternative locations, together with his assertion that the Pickaxe Mountain facility remains inactive, comes as the US administration weighs whether to pursue a negotiated settlement rather than another round of military confrontation.
