Iran’s Secret Underground Nuclear Site: What is Pickaxe Mountain and Why Does Trump Want to Bomb It?
A recently declassified satellite image has revealed the existence of an underground nuclear site in Iran known as Pickaxe Mountain. Located immediately south of the Natanz nuclear complex, this mysterious facility appears to be a potential replacement for damaged buildings within the Natanz complex.
The site is believed to be buried deep inside the mountain and its exact purpose remains shrouded in mystery and speculation. Tehran has previously indicated that it may be a new facility used for assembling advanced centrifuges, which are crucial components in producing enriched uranium, a key material for both civilian and military purposes.
Satellite images taken on June 30, 2026, show several construction vehicles near one of the western entrances to Pickaxe Mountain. These images suggest ongoing work on access roads and tunnel entrances around the site, indicating that it may be being expanded or renovated.
Experts have analyzed satellite imagery from various sources, including the US-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), which estimates that external Iran has partially filled two of the eastern tunnels to block ground access. This suggests that Pickaxe Mountain is likely a highly secure facility designed to protect its internal workings from aerial attacks.
The potential impact of any strike on Pick axe Mountain remains uncertain, with some analysts estimating that it may be chosen as a target due to its proximity to Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities at Fordo and Natanz. However, the site appears to have been built with multiple layers of protection in mind, including a large perimeter fence constructed over time following the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June 2025.
The US has repeatedly threatened to bomb Pick axe Mountain, citing concerns about potential nuclear activity within the facility. In July 2020, former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, stated that a more modern, spacious, and comprehensive facility would be built near Natanz in place of what is believed to be Pick axe Mountain.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been given access to Pick axe Mountain by Tehran, despite its intention to have nuclear activity there. The IAEA estimated in 2025 that Iran holds roughly 440kg of 60% enriched uranium, with unproven claims suggesting that part or all of this stockpile may be kept at Pick axe Mountain.
The potential for a US bombing campaign against Pick axe Mountain remains high due to its deep location and uncertain layout. However, experts argue that the site’s depth and complexity make it unlikely that any single strike would completely destroy the facility. Targeting tunnel entrances, communications systems, access roads, and other supporting infrastructure could paralyse the facility’s operations even if some of its deepest underground sections survived.
While Iran has indicated a desire to have nuclear activity at Pick axe Mountain, the site remains shrouded in mystery, with much of what is known about it remaining speculative. The ongoing construction work on access roads and tunnel entrances suggests that the facility may be being expanded or renovated, but its exact purpose and potential impact remain unclear.
Source: BBC Top Stories
Based on reporting from BBC Top Stories.
