American journalist and political commentator Tucker Carlson has claimed that the United States could be preparing a possible nuclear strike against Iran. In a lengthy post on X, Carlson said US President Donald Trump could consider using nuclear weapons under pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also said a decision on the matter could be made by November 7.
The claims are Carlson’s own and appear in his post. They describe a scenario he presents as a serious risk, and they are not attributed in the post to any official US decision.
Carlson names Pickaxe Mountain as a possible target
Carlson identified Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran as a potential target. He alleged that suspected nuclear facilities in the area are located inside underground tunnels. According to his account, Israeli intelligence claims Iranian authorities have restarted a nuclear enrichment programme there.
Also read: Trump Iran military action could widen if GOP loses midterms
Carlson argued that conventional weapons may not be able to destroy such deeply buried sites. He said no conventional weapon in the American arsenal could penetrate about 300 feet of solid granite, which is why, in his view, nuclear weapons were being considered. These points are his assertions and have not been independently verified in the post.
Warnings of wider regional and global fallout
Carlson warned that a nuclear attack on Iran could have far-reaching consequences beyond the Middle East, potentially triggering a global conflict. He said the region’s longtime American allies were alarmed by the prospect of more fighting. He claimed that Netanyahu had flown secretly to Abu Dhabi on September 27 to seek UAE support for a final attack on Iran, and that the Emiratis refused.
Carlson also described strains on Gulf economies and global energy and fertilizer markets after eight months of conflict. He alleged that 11 supertankers were badly damaged in Hormuz in October alone, and said a nuclear strike would accelerate the damage. He claimed that fallout from a ground explosion at Pickaxe Mountain could contaminate the Persian Gulf and threaten the water supply of 100 million people.
Carlson went on to argue that a US nuclear strike on Iran would set a dangerous international precedent. He claimed Russia had told at least two other governments that such a strike would free it to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine. He also warned of a heightened risk of nuclear confrontation between Pakistan and India, and suggested tensions involving North Korea and South Korea could escalate.
Vance and Witkoff backing talks, Netanyahu-Trump call
Carlson said that US Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff are advocating a diplomatic agreement with Iran rather than further military escalation. He claimed both officials believe a negotiated settlement remains possible, although reaching one would be difficult. He further alleged that Netanyahu had increased pressure on US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and the head of US Central Command, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were supportive of Netanyahu’s position.
Separately, a report citing an Israeli source and a US source said Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone on Saturday. According to that report, Netanyahu pressed Trump to attack Iran immediately after the Tuesday (November 3) midterm elections. The Israeli source described the conversation as “tough,” while the US source called it “direct.”
Trump confirmed the conversation, describing it as a “very good talk,” according to the Associated Press. He acknowledged that Iran was discussed but declined to say what the two leaders had discussed.
