Trump Dismisses Israeli Intelligence on Iran Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Buildup Accusing Netanyahu of Fabricating Urgency

In a Fox News interview hours before Tuesday's Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu, Trump said he does not need Israeli briefings on Pickaxe Mountain, calling activity there "not a big problem" and citing US satellite surveillance 123. Trump alleged Netanyahu was disclosing the intelligence publicly to keep him "involved" in Iran rather than briefing him directly, asking "why announce it to the world?" 123. According to New York Post and Wall Street Journal reporting relayed by Mediaite, Netanyahu intended to show Trump intelligence that Iran moved nuclear infrastructure, including centrifuges, to Pickaxe Mountain after the US-Iran memorandum of understanding 3. Trump repeated a threat to strike the site if no negotiated deal with Iran is reached 12. Following the meeting, Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate head Tzipi Hotovely denied Netanyahu had brought or offered any such intelligence, calling the reports "fake news" and stating Pickaxe Mountain "did not come up" in the Oval Office discussion.