Iran’s potentially most dangerous nuclear site is buried up to 100 meters beneath a granite mountain, according to new estimates, and a non-proliferation expert warned it must be “neutralized” before the US war with Iran ends.
This came after new figures released on Wednesday by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) show that US and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury in late February and have since hit more than 7,800 targets in Iran as the conflict enters day 18.
“Before the United States and Israel conclude major combat operations against Iran, they must complete two urgent tasks,” Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the nonproliferation program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in a speech. policy briefing.
AS UN SENDS MIXED SIGNALS, WITKOFF REVEALS IRAN’S NUCLEAR DECLINE ‘PROUD’
Satellite images show reinforcement efforts at the Pickaxe Mountain site. Trump says Tehran is pursuing a nuclear weapon. (Vantor/handout via Reuters)
“First, they must neutralize Pickaxe Mountain. Second, they must recover or eliminate highly enriched uranium stockpiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of surviving regime elements, other hostile states, or terrorist allies.”
High-resolution satellite images from mid-February show Iran’s accelerated efforts to fortify the site at Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, known as ‘Pickaxe Mountain’, against possible air attacks, the report said. Institute for Science and International Security.
“At one of the eastern tunnel entrances, you can see rocks and soil pushed back and leveled on top of the tunnel portal,” the institute said. report said.
“In addition, a concrete-reinforced main structure for the expansion of the tunnel entrance was added last month. This creates additional overload in the form of stone, soil or concrete.”
STRIKES COULD SET IRAN BACK – BUT LIKELY NOT TO END NUCLEAR PROGRAM, SAYS UN WATCHDOG CHIEF
A satellite image shows an overview of the Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex in Natanz. (Vantor/handout via Reuters)
The report added that “these efforts strengthen the tunnel portals and provide additional protection against an air attack,” noting visible piles of construction materials at the entrances.
Preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is one of President Donald Trump’s war goals.
In June 2025, US forces carried out attacks on nuclear sites including Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
In June 2025, Iran had approximately 441 kilograms of uranium, enriched to 60%. This is enough material, if further enriched to weapons level, for multiple nuclear weapons, the report said. International Atomic Energy Agency.
Rafael Grossi, director general, also said on March 9 that the UN watchdog believes about 200 kilograms of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium is still stored in deep tunnels at a nuclear complex outside Isfahan.
SATELLITE IMAGES REVEAL ACTIVITY AT IRAN’S NUCLEAR SITES, BOMBARDED BY US, ISRAEL
President Donald Trump confirmed that the US launched attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026. (The White House via X Account/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Grossi added that additional quantities of highly enriched uranium are believed to be present at another nuclear center in Natanz, where Iran has built a new fortified underground facility on Pickaxe Mountain.
On March 9, Trump pointed to Iran’s efforts to resume nuclear activity at a deeper site and said Tehran has continued to pursue a nuclear weapon “even after we destroyed their key nuclear sites.”
“They started working at another location, another location … that was protected by granite. … They wanted to go much deeper, and they started the process,” Trump said, according to reports.
According to Stricker, the “other location” Trump is referring to is Pickaxe Mountain, where Iran has said it has been building a centrifuge assembly plant at the site since 2021. The location is one and a half kilometers from the enrichment plant in Natanz.
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“The size of the facility, as well as the protection afforded by the high mountain, has raised immediate concerns as to whether further sensitive activities are planned, such as uranium enrichment,” the Institute for Science and International Security also noted in its report.
In early March, a vehicle was hit outside the site, believed to be by Israel, The Wall Street Journal reported, before suggesting the vehicle attack was evidence that the US and Israel are keeping a close eye on the mountain.
