Satellite view showing tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, of the Natanz nuclear facility, near Natanz, Iran. (June 30, 2026) (Vantor)
‘Israel’ believes US cannot destroy Iran’s “Pickaxe Mountain”: Hebrew media
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Iran's "Pickaxe Mountain" facility, a heavily fortified underground complex near the Natanz nuclear site, has emerged as a major remaining challenge in efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
According to recent ‘Israeli’ intelligence shared with the US, Iran has moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges into tunnels deep within the mountain, known officially as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La.
The ‘Israeli’ Army radio reported new details on Wednesday about the site, highlighting ‘Israeli’ concerns over its resilience.
The complex, tunneled into a mountain standing about 1,608 meters above sea level—significantly taller than the one housing the Fordow facility—features entrances reinforced with concrete and other hardening measures visible in recent satellite imagery.
Construction at Pickaxe Mountain began around 2020, reportedly to house a centrifuge assembly plant after earlier sabotage at Natanz.
Iran claims this civilian purpose, but analysts from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) and others suspect it could support uranium enrichment or storage of enriched material, protected by hundreds of meters of rock.
The site was not targeted during the 2025 US-‘Israeli’ strikes on Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, likely because it was not yet fully operational.
Post-strike satellite analysis shows ongoing activity, including vehicle movements, tunnel reinforcement, and security perimeter enhancements, even amid ceasefires or memoranda of understanding.
‘Israeli’ assessments indicate that even advanced US bunker-buster bombs, such as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (GBU-57), may be insufficient to fully neutralize chambers potentially buried 90-140 meters or deeper beneath granite.
David Albright of ISIS has previously noted that the new Natanz site "may be even harder to destroy" than Fordow.
President Donald Trump has publicly threatened strikes on the facility.
"We're going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready," he stated recently, while acknowledging uncertainty about the exact contents.
