Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has warned that the United States could be moving toward a nuclear strike on Iran, specifically targeting a facility at Pickaxe Mountain. In a statement posted on social media, Carlson alleged that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressuring President Donald Trump to authorize the attack, arguing that conventional weaponry is insufficient to penetrate the site where Israeli intelligence claims Iran has resumed uranium enrichment.
Carlson cautioned that such an action would set a dangerous global precedent, potentially triggering a third world war. He stated, "The rest of the world is every bit as exposed. No country other than the United States has ever used a nuclear weapon in war. Some would like to. An American nuclear attack on Iran would set a new precedent." He further claimed that such a move could embolden other nations, suggesting that Russia might feel empowered to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine, while tensions between India and Pakistan or North Korea and South Korea could escalate into nuclear conflict.
Additionally, Carlson criticized the current administration for allegedly revising US nuclear doctrine since February to lower the threshold for the first use of tactical nuclear weapons. "We’ve been sleepwalking toward this moment for months. Since February, the administration has quietly rewritten America’s nuclear doctrine to make first use of so-called 'battlefield nukes' easier and therefore more likely," he wrote.
These warnings coincide with recent remarks from President Trump regarding Iran. During a rally in Iowa on Sunday, Trump stated, "And the only reason why I'm not finished with Iran is I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can...But at some point we're going to have to give them the hammer." Previously, when questioned by reporters about potential military action, Trump remarked, "Do you really think I'm going to tell you if I'm going to do it?" He has indicated that his final decision on Iran will likely follow the US midterm elections.
While the prospect of a Russian nuclear response remains speculative, Russian officials have previously issued conditional threats. In July 2023, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, stated that Moscow would be forced to utilize nuclear weapons if a NATO-backed Ukrainian offensive succeeded in reclaiming territory annexed by Russia. Medvedev described this as a requirement under Russian presidential decree, emphasizing that there would be "no other option" in such a scenario.
