Trump: 'We Will Take Care of It' If Houthis Block Red Sea; 'Pickaxe Mountain' Strike Imminent

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on July 21 (local time) that if the Houthi rebels, an Iranian-backed militant group in Yemen, proceed with their declared blockade of the Red Sea, "we will take care of it," signaling his willingness to respond.

During a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House that day, President Trump was asked by reporters about the possibility of a Red Sea blockade by the Houthi rebels. He replied, "We'll see what happens. It hasn't happened yet," before making the remark.

Amid ongoing military tensions between the U.S. and Iran over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the Houthi rebels have declared they will block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, targeting the pro-U.S. oil-producing nation of Saudi Arabia.

President Trump's comments are interpreted as a warning that if the Houthis begin a blockade, the U.S. will mobilize its military to strike them.

From March to May of last year, under President Trump's orders, the U.S. military launched large-scale strikes targeting the Houthis, who had been attacking merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

President Trump also warned that he would soon strike the so-called "Pickaxe Mountain," where Iran is suspected of having built underground nuclear facilities.

"We will be hitting that area very hard, pretty soon," President Trump said.

Pickaxe Mountain is located near Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility and is known to house fortified underground nuclear facilities.

"Any place they have that they're even thinking about nuclear, we're going to hit it very, very hard," President Trump emphasized.

When asked whether Iran had moved nuclear centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, he said, "Maybe they did," but added, "If they don't have the nuclear material, it doesn't mean anything."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who attended the meeting, cited the case of North Korea and emphasized the need to block Iran's nuclear weapons development.

"For 47 years, they (Iran) have been building up their conventional military, just like North Korea," Hegseth said. "Remember that's exactly how North Korea developed the bomb (nuclear bomb)."

President Trump also stated, "Iran is dying to meet (with the U.S.)," adding, "We are not interested until they are ready to meet in a meaningful way."

He further claimed that even if the U.S. military were to withdraw immediately, it would take 20 to 25 years to rebuild Iran.

"But we're not withdrawing immediately, and we've dealt a major blow to Iran," he said. "I don't think they'll ever be able to rebuild. Honestly, they haven't experienced anything yet. We have been quite generous so far."

Regarding the U.S. maritime blockade of Iran, he said, "Nobody can get through the blockade. It's like a steel wall," asserting that the blockade is being enforced perfectly.

President Trump also expressed his intention to support Lebanon during the meeting.

"Lebanon has been a country that has been treated very unfairly," President Trump said. "We will make sure that this country is treated properly and receives the respect it deserves."

Meanwhile, regarding his previously raised allegations of Chinese interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, President Trump stated, "I will talk to China about that issue."

Regarding the fire at a federal building in New York the previous day, he said, "That's what happens when we allow people into our country. They are extreme lunatics, and I will kick them out," placing weight on the theory that it was the work of immigrants.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.