Iran's Secret Nuclear Site Sees Surge in Construction Amid US Strike Plans
A suspected Iranian nuclear site buried under granite at Pickaxe Mountain has seen a significant surge in construction activity this year, according to analysts examining six years of satellite imagery. The site, known as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is an underground complex located about two kilometers south of Natanz and roughly 225 kilometers south of Tehran.
CSIS analysts say the 2026 activity includes raising and hardening tunnel entrances, paving internal roads, reinforcing access areas, and removing excavated soil. The analysis suggests that the underground facility is likely designed as a safe haven for Iran's nuclear program.
The US military has operational plans for strikes against Pickaxe Mountain, but experts say it would be extremely difficult to destroy using conventional weapons due to its location deep inside a granite mountain. The IAEA has requested information about the site and access to it, but Iran has not responded.