LOS ANGELES.–Threatening more attacks on Iran’s bridges and energy infrastructure, President Donald Trump served notice that everytime Iran strikes a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz or elsewhere, they can expect key pieced of civilian architecture also struck. Iran’s IRGC has been operating in the Hormuz Strait with impunity, hitting commercial ships at will when they defy Iranian command to gain approval with the IRGC. Trumj only accepts that the Hormujz Strait is an international waterway not subject to arbitrary restrictions, especially paying Iran fabricated tolls and fees. No matter what target Trump hits in in mainland, it doesn’t stop the IRBC from attacking commercial ships in the Gulf or elsewhere. Trump needs a new strategy to neutralize the IRGC wherevevr it’s found. Exchanging tit-for-tat strikes does nothing to help resovle the nearly two month old conflict.
Striking Iran’s costal radar and other military installation in the south or wherever doesn’t stop the IRGC from striking commercial ships in the Hormuz Strait. Itan clearly plays a waiting game hoping it can frustrate the U.S. enough into giving up. Iran’s terrorist war against the United States presents problems fodr the Pentagon, knowing that it can keep the war going indefinitely fircing off cheap drones and missiles, compated to the U.S.for deploying two aircraft carrier strikes goups, constinin the U.S. billion in extra expenses. Secretary of State Pete Hegseth was flogged in Concress yesterday to daring to ask for morer cash beyone the$37 billion already spend. When the U.S. spends over $37 bo;;ost of doing business deploying two aircraft carrier strike groups, regardless of the circumstances. Iran can sit back confortably and just fire drones and missile at U.S. targets.
Why U.S. allies with a vested interest in Persian Gulf and Red Sea oil don’t join the fight against Iran is anyone’s guess. Whatever they think personally of Trump, the U.S. should not shourlder the entire burden of going after the IRGC, trying to stop the terror group from shooting at innocent commercial ships. Under the international law of the sea, every commercial vessel has a right ot tranisit the Hormuz Strait. No country accepts Iran’s sovereignty claims over the Strait of Hormuz. Arab Gulf State have just about enough and are starting to get involved in the fight to assure safe passage over international waterways now blocked by Iran’s IRGC terror group. Trump doesn’t have indefinite time to continue burning through the Pentagon cash and munitions without consequences. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth got a gold receiption in the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Judging by Iran’s defiant response to Trump’s warnings, it looks like the Persian nation sin’t about to back down, conent to keep firing cheap missiles and drones at U.S. assets around the Gulf. Occasionally, Iran makes a direct hit on U.S. bases, killing or maiming U.S. soldiers. IF the trend continues, there’s no end in sight to the tit-for-tat strikes between Iran and the U.S. Trump has found in new target with the help of Israel in so-called Pickaxe Mountain, another undertground nuke facility opened up after B-2 Stea;tj Bomber attacks in 2025. Iran frantically opened up Pickaxe Mountain to house its 1,000 pounds of 60% fissile material, keeping Iran’s hope alive to develop its own nuclear warhead. Trump now seems poised to order strikes with bunker buser bombs on Pickaxe Mountain. Once that happens, maybe Iran will get back to diplomacy to end the war.
Pivoting to Pickaxe Mountain would put more pressure on Iran to come stop striking commercial ships in the Hormuz Strait. Opening up another fron in the Red Sea, Iran convinced the Houthi rebels to close the Bab-el-Mandab Strait, another major route to the Suez Canal especially for Arab Gulf States like Saudi Arabia. Trump will have a new headache it the Houothis decide to start striking ship transiting the Bab-el-Mandab Strait. Choking off the worlds oil supply, Iran hopes for worldwide domination of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and helium, all vital to Western commerce. Pivoting operations to Pickaxe Mountain could expose Iran’s real weakness as it attempts to defend its battered nuclear program. Trump is fed up with trying to stop the IRGC from restraining itself in the Hormuz Strait. So, a B-2 Stealth boming attack could be getting closer by the hour.
Trump looks to pivot to Pickaxe Mountain, a move that intends to humiliate the IRGC and Tehran mullah regime. Sending it bunker buster bombs on B-2 Stealth bombers shows the superiority of the U.S. military when it jcomes to real combat operations. Iran thinks it’s holding ts own with the U.S. striking targets with only drones and missile should by get through hardened U.S. air defenses. Striking Pickaxe Mountain, the last of Iran’s underground nuclear facilities, would show the world that when it comes to something really important to Iran’s national identity they are actually defenseless. Trump hasn’t figured out the conundrum of Iran’s terrorist operations but enentually that will happen. Hitting Pickaxe Mountain now should demoralize the IRGC and Tehran-based mullah government know they have no real defenses when it comes to matter ot national pride.
About the Author
John M. Curtie writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
