Trump Threatens Pickaxe Mountain Strike
US President Donald Trump has issued a warning that his country may target Iran's Pickaxe Mountain site 'pretty soon, and very heavily'. The facility, located near Natanz nuclear complex in central Iran, is believed to be involved in producing advanced centrifuges for uranium enrichment. While Iranian officials claim the site is intended for peaceful purposes, Western intelligence agencies are skeptical.
The Pickaxe Mountain facility began construction in 2020, after sabotage damaged the above-ground facility at Natanz. At over 100 meters underground, carved into solid granite, it's considered 'very hard to kill' due to its depth and geological location. The US has previously deliberately left the site untouched during past strikes.
Israeli intelligence has expressed concerns that Iran may have relocated centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, but this assessment hasn't been independently confirmed by US officials. Satellite imagery shows ongoing construction at the site as of mid-2026, with no operational activity detected. Iranian officials warn that an attack on the facility would escalate tensions dramatically.
The IAEA's role in monitoring the site adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Critics argue that declaring a facility's existence doesn't equate to granting full access to it, and the depth and hardening of the installation suggest purposes beyond what Iran has publicly acknowledged.