Tucker Carlson Claims US Could Use Nuclear Weapons Against Iran; Evidence Remains Unclear
Paris Telegraph | International Desk 03/11/2026
US commentator Tucker Carlson has claimed that the Trump administration could be close to using a nuclear weapon against Iran, alleging that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing President Donald Trump to strike a suspected nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain.
Carlson made the claim in a lengthy post on X on 2 November. He wrote that Trump could decide by 7 November whether to use nuclear weapons and cited unnamed sources for several of his claims. The post did not include documents, named officials or public evidence confirming that a nuclear strike is being considered.
The allegations come amid heightened tensions and reports that Washington is weighing its next steps in the conflict with Iran. The Associated Press reported that US officials had privately urged regional allies to prepare for the possibility of renewed strikes after the US midterm elections. That reporting described uncertainty over Trump’s decision and the risk of Iranian retaliation; it did not confirm that nuclear weapons were under consideration.
Trump had publicly ruled out using a nuclear weapon against Iran in an interview reported by Reuters on 16 October, saying it was not necessary. He did, however, say the United States might target Pickaxe Mountain with conventional weapons.
Separate reporting by Axios said Netanyahu was urging Trump to resume military action, while the US president wanted to allow negotiations to continue. The report described a possible return to combat and diplomatic efforts, but did not substantiate Carlson’s claim of a nuclear strike plan.
Pickaxe Mountain is associated with Iran’s nuclear programme and has been discussed in reporting about the difficulty of reaching deeply buried sites with conventional weapons. The existence of military discussion about the site does not, by itself, establish that a nuclear weapon is being considered.
Carlson’s post also made claims about internal US deliberations and regional consequences, including damage to oil tankers and the potential effects of a nuclear strike. Those claims were not accompanied by publicly available documentation in the post. Paris Telegraph has not independently verified them.
As of 3 November, public reporting supports the possibility of renewed military action and ongoing diplomacy, but does not confirm Carlson’s central allegation that the United States is preparing a nuclear strike against Iran.
Source: Tucker Carlson’s post on X
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