Pickaxe Mountain: Iran fortifies nuclear site amid U.S. threats

Satellite imagery and intelligence reports indicate that Iran is fortifying Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried underground facility located approximately two kilometers from the Natanz nuclear complex. Recent analysis from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) shows that Iran has added earthen barriers and soil over tunnel portals to harden the entrances against aerial bombardment.

These developments follow repeated warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated that American intelligence has detected activity at the site. Trump has previously threatened to ‘take out’ the facility if diplomatic efforts fail, advising Tehran not to ‘get cute’ because the U.S. military would ‘have to hit them very hard.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed concerns, stating that Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons again. While Israeli intelligence claims centrifuges were moved into the mountain following a conflict in June 2025, satellite imagery from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has not yet independently confirmed whether enrichment equipment is currently operating underground. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to inspect the facility.