Iran's Nuclear Mountain Move
Iran Fortifies Nuclear Program by Relocating Centrifuges Deep Inside Pickaxe Mountain Tunnels
Anonymous
Key Points
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Satellite imagery indicates the Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex is carved more than 100 meters below bedrock, making it deeper and more fortified than Fordow; Iraqi/ISIS assessments noted the tunnel under construction was not targeted in the June 2025 wars.
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Iran claims Pickaxe Mountain is a factory for production and assembly of advanced centrifuges rather than an active enrichment facility, and Tehran has barred IAEA access, with Rafael Grossi demanding verification information.
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The site is known in Iran as Mount Kolang Gaz La, and Israeli assessments describe ongoing construction activity over roughly 15 months, including truck movements, tunnel reinforcement and expanded security infrastructure, with an older 2007 tunnel network reportedly sealed.
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U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly framed Pickaxe Mountain as a potential target, saying: "Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door."
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Analysts note the reported relocation of thousands of centrifuges to a fortified underground facility amid ongoing ceasefire diplomacy, with market commentary suggesting a decreased likelihood that Iran will halt enrichment by the end of 2026.
Iran has moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges into deep fortified tunnels inside Pickaxe Mountain, a site near Natanz, according to Israeli intelligence shared with the Trump administration, i24 News reported. The move came after U.S. and Israeli strikes hit Iran's main enrichment facilities during the June 2025 conflict, pushing Tehran to harden what remains of its nuclear program.
The tunnel complex sits more than 100 meters below bedrock — deeper than Iran's known Fordow facility — making it extremely difficult to destroy from the air, The Media Line reported. President Trump has already publicly named the site as a potential target, saying: "Pickaxe is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right near the front door."
How Iran Built a Near-Impenetrable Underground Fortress
The site is officially known in Iran as Mount Kolang Gaz La. Israeli assessments describe roughly 15 months of construction activity, including truck movements, tunnel reinforcement, and expanded security infrastructure, according to World Israel News. An older tunnel network dating to 2007 was reportedly sealed as the new complex was developed.
The tunnels are carved more than 100 meters into bedrock, The Media Line noted. That depth puts the facility beyond the reach of most conventional bunker-busting weapons. The site sits about 220 kilometers south of Tehran and close to the existing Natanz enrichment complex, one of Iran's primary nuclear hubs.
Iran Denies Enrichment Activity, Bars IAEA Inspectors
Tehran insists Pickaxe Mountain is a factory for making and assembling advanced centrifuges — not an active enrichment site. Iran has blocked International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from entering. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has publicly demanded verification, according to Crypto Briefing.
The distinction matters. Centrifuge assembly and active uranium enrichment are different activities — but both could advance Iran's nuclear capabilities. Without IAEA access, outside governments have no independent way to confirm what is actually happening inside the mountain.
Israel Shared Intelligence Directly With Trump White House
Israel passed its findings on Pickaxe Mountain to Washington, Bloomingbit reported. The intelligence sharing happened as both governments continue ceasefire diplomacy with Iran following the June 2025 war. U.S. and Israeli strikes during that conflict targeted Iran's main enrichment facilities, pushing Tehran to seek a more protected alternative.
Analysts note that the tunnel complex was under construction during the June conflict but was not struck. That gap may have been deliberate — or a product of incomplete targeting intelligence at the time. Either way, Iran now appears to have a functioning, hardened enrichment infrastructure that did not exist before the war.
Diplomatic Pressure Grows as Enrichment Odds Stay High
Washington and Jerusalem have both pressed Iran amid ongoing nuclear talks. But market analysts now see a lower chance that Iran halts enrichment by the end of 2026, according to Crypto Briefing. The relocation of thousands of centrifuges to a site this fortified signals Tehran is preparing for a long standoff, not a quick deal.
Trump's public threat to strike Pickaxe Mountain adds pressure but also signals limits. Hitting a target buried more than 100 meters in bedrock is a major military challenge. The standoff over Iran's nuclear program has entered a new phase — one defined by deeper tunnels, less transparency, and fewer easy options.
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