Amid Trump's war threat, Iran opens training centre to prepare civilians for attacks

Iran has opened a Tehran training centre to prepare civilian volunteers amid renewed US strike warnings. The move underscores continuing war uncertainty as diplomacy remains deadlocked and Pickaxe Mountain faces scrutiny. The facility, located at Tajrish Square in the Iranian capital, was decorated with Iranian flags as participants walked along a tightrope and underwent training. (Photo: Reuters)US President Donald Trump's warnings of a possible fresh strike on Iran have put Tehran on alert, with the country now preparing civilians for a potential escalation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has opened a military training centre in the capital, where volunteers are being trained in basic military exercises amid the threat of renewed US attack.The training centre was inaugurated on Monday, November 2, with footage showing members of the Iranian military and the IRGC handling weapons and taking part in physical training exercises. The facility, located at Tajrish Square in the Iranian capital, was decorated with Iranian flags as participants walked along a tightrope and underwent training.The opening is part of an effort to involve civilians in military preparedness, with similar training centres already established at Haft-e Tir Square and Imam Hussein Square in Tehran. This comes at a sensitive point in the conflict, with diplomatic efforts to end the eight-month war continuing even as Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the terms of a possible agreement.It also comes a day before the US midterm elections, after which Trump could face mounting pressure to decide whether to pursue negotiations or authorise another round of strikes against Iran. IRAN PREPARES CIVILIANS FOR WARAt the same time, Tehran and Washington continue to explore ways to end the conflict that began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran.Iranian officials said on Monday that contacts with Washington were continuing. However, days of discussions involving Qatari mediators have ended without a breakthrough, despite the exchange of revised proposals. The conflict has had consequences well beyond Iran's borders. Tehran's closure of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz has disrupted a major international shipping route, while the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Iranian drone and missile attacks have also targeted Gulf states, while fighting in Yemen has intensified.TRUMP WEIGHS DIPLOMACY AGAINST FRESH STRIKESThe possibility of renewed US military action has become a major concern as Trump faces pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a harder line against Tehran.Netanyahu is reportedly pushing Washington to launch fresh strikes against Iran after the November 3 midterm elections. His own political position has weakened following Israel's recent elections, in which his bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, falling short of the 61 required for a majority.Reports in US media suggest Netanyahu believes renewed military action against Iran could bring rival political factions in Israel closer together and help him secure a political arrangement to remain in power.According to a report by Axios, Trump and Netanyahu discussed the possibility of further military operations during a telephone conversation on Saturday. Israeli and US sources told the publication that Netanyahu wanted Washington to strike Iran immediately after the midterms, while Trump preferred to give diplomatic efforts more time.Trump has openly indicated that he is not rushing into another military confrontation. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said negotiations with Iran were "going fine" and that he was "not in much of a hurry".However, he also warned that Washington still needed to "take care" of one or two Iranian nuclear sites, renewing attention on a heavily fortified underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain.WHY PICKAXE MOUNTAIN IS IN TRUMP'S SIGHTSPickaxe Mountain, also known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is located around 220 km south of Tehran, close to Iran's Natanz nuclear complex. The site is believed to contain a network of tunnels buried deep inside a mountain and has been linked to Iran's nuclear programme.According to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), construction of the facility began in 2020. Its main tunnel complex is estimated to lie at least 100 metres beneath the mountain, with four entrances and sections reinforced with layers of concrete and earth.The facility is also protected by a security perimeter that includes fencing, walls and patrol routes. However, its exact operational status and the nature of the equipment inside remain unclear.In an assessment published on October 16, ISIS said satellite images taken on October 7 showed that the eastern tunnel entrances remained blocked by earth. Roadblocks were also visible near the western entrances.The organisation said the restricted access suggested that the facility was not operational and that major construction work had not continued during the period examined. However, it cautioned that equipment and materials, including centrifuges and components, may have been moved into the tunnels after earlier attacks.Trump has repeatedly threatened to target the site. In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on July 13, he said Washington was monitoring the facility and suggested it could be attacked.On July 21, Trump again threatened to strike the area, saying the United States would hit it "pretty soon and very heavily". He also suggested that Iran might have moved nuclear centrifuges to the site, although he said Washington was primarily tracking nuclear material.The facility presents a significant military challenge because of its depth and underground construction. The US arsenal includes the 14-tonne GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a bunker-busting bomb designed to penetrate heavily fortified underground structures. However, the extent to which such weapons could damage the facility remains uncertain.- Ends