President Donald Trump warned that the United States would respond if the Iranian-aligned Houthi movement's threat to block the Red Sea materializes.
On July 21, during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, Trump addressed questions about the Houthi blockade threat, stating, "So far, that hasn’t happened, but if it does, we will handle it."
The Houthis recently declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and threatened to attack vessels transporting Saudi oil. Following a significant decrease in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to U.S.-Iran tensions, Saudi Arabia has been utilizing the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea as an alternative route for oil exports. If Houthi attacks commence, disruptions to oil transport in the Middle East could worsen.
Trump also indicated potential strikes against a site known as 'Pickaxe Mountain,' believed to be linked to Iran's nuclear program. He stated, "We will be hitting that area very hard soon."
Pickaxe Mountain is located near Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility and is reported to contain extensive underground tunnels. Iran has previously announced plans to construct facilities related to advanced centrifuges for uranium enrichment at this site, though its current use and operational status remain unverified.
Regarding the possibility of negotiations with Iran, Trump remarked, "Iran desperately wants to meet with us, but we are not interested until they are ready to meet in a meaningful way."
Accompanying Trump, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses emphasized the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, referencing North Korea as a cautionary example. Hegses stated, "For 47 years, Iran has been building up its conventional military power, just as North Korea did to develop nuclear bombs. We must remember that."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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