US political commentator Tucker Carlson has claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressuring President Donald Trump to consider a nuclear strike against Iran, potentially within days. Carlson identified Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility in central Iran, as the possible target, but provided no independently verifiable evidence that such an operation is being planned.

In a lengthy post on social media platform X, Carlson alleged that Netanyahu has repeatedly urged Trump to approve military action against the facility, where Israeli intelligence reportedly believes Iran may have resumed uranium enrichment activities.

Carlson argued that conventional American weapons could not penetrate the estimated 300 feet of solid granite protecting underground tunnels at the site, suggesting that a nuclear weapon would be the only military option. However, this assessment and the alleged nuclear proposal have not been independently established.

He also quoted an unnamed source as saying that Netanyahu contacts Trump about the issue regularly.

Neither the White House nor the Israeli government has publicly confirmed Carlson’s allegation that Netanyahu is seeking an American nuclear strike.

Pickaxe Mountain emerges as a potential target

The alleged target, Pickaxe Mountain, has attracted attention amid continuing concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme and the possibility of renewed American military action.

Trump recently acknowledged that the United States still had one or two Iranian targets to address, specifically mentioning Pickaxe Mountain. He said American forces could deal with the site quickly, but did not announce any decision to use nuclear weapons.

In an earlier interview with Newsmax on October 16, Trump explicitly ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran, saying they were unnecessary.

Carlson’s latest comments therefore raise questions about the difference between the possibility of conventional military action and his unverified allegation of a nuclear strike.

Carlson alleges Netanyahu wants military escalation

Carlson linked the alleged pressure for military action to Netanyahu’s political position following recent elections in Israel. He argued that the Israeli prime minister needs continued support from Trump to maintain his political position and secure a governing majority.

Carlson also alleged that senior American officials, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, favour renewed military operations against Iran. He further claimed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were aligned with Netanyahu’s position.

These claims about the positions of American officials have not been independently verified.

Carlson portrayed Vice President JD Vance and US special envoy Steve Witkoff as favouring continued negotiations with Tehran rather than an immediate return to military confrontation.

Trump and Netanyahu discuss Iran

The allegations come amid renewed diplomatic and military discussions between Washington and Jerusalem.

According to an Axios report cited by The Times of India, Trump and Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Saturday, October 31, about Iran. The report described disagreements over the timing of possible military action, with Netanyahu reportedly pressing for renewed strikes after the November 3 US midterm elections while Trump preferred to allow diplomatic efforts to continue.

Trump subsequently described the conversation as a “very good talk” and confirmed that Iran was among the subjects discussed.

Meanwhile, Qatar has been facilitating contacts between American and Iranian representatives in an effort to revive direct negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has indicated that progress depends on Washington responding to Tehran’s concerns.

Nuclear strike warning raises global concerns

Carlson warned that a US nuclear attack on Iran could have consequences extending far beyond the Middle East.

He argued that the use of nuclear weapons by Washington could establish a dangerous international precedent and potentially encourage other nuclear powers to consider similar actions.

He specifically raised concerns about possible Russian nuclear escalation in Ukraine and wider instability involving other nuclear-armed countries.

Carlson also warned that a nuclear explosion at Pickaxe Mountain could create radioactive contamination affecting the Persian Gulf and threaten regional water supplies. These projections remain his claims rather than established assessments of the consequences of a potential strike.

The possibility of renewed fighting has already raised concerns about energy supplies, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the wider regional economy.

No confirmed decision on nuclear weapons

Despite Carlson’s claims, there is no publicly verified evidence that Trump has authorised or formally approved a nuclear strike against Iran.

The Associated Press and Anadolu Agency have also reported Carlson’s allegations, while noting that the proposed nuclear operation has not been confirmed by the US administration. Trump has discussed possible conventional strikes against remaining Iranian targets, but that is distinct from authorising nuclear weapons.

With diplomatic efforts continuing and tensions between Washington and Tehran unresolved, the coming days could be significant for the future of the conflict. For now, the prospect of a nuclear strike remains an unverified allegation by Carlson, not an established US military decision.