Iran Adds Defenses at Pickaxe Mountain as Trump Threatens to Strike
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Cited: Fox News, CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies, The Times of Israel
TL;DR
Iran has fortified tunnels at Pickaxe Mountain with soil and concrete as President Trump threatens strikes, while Russia and China blocked a UN resolution on Iran sanctions, and CSIS analysis confirms the highest construction activity at the site since 2020.
Why now
The renewed hardening of Pickaxe Mountain comes amid escalating US-Iran tensions, a UN deadlock over sanctions monitoring, and Israeli intelligence reports that Iran may have moved centrifuges into the site last fall. Trump’s repeated warnings suggest a strike is imminent.
Agree / conflict
Some experts argue the strike window has already passed because the site is too deep and reinforced; others say the US can effectively disable it by burying entrances. Diplomats are divided over whether sanctions are legally restored, with Russia and China blocking UN enforcement.
Takeaway
A purely military approach to Iran’s underground nuclear facilities is unsustainable, and a verifiable diplomatic solution is the only long-term path to prevent nuclear weapons development.
New satellite imagery shows Iran has added soil and earthen barriers to fortify tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, the deeply buried nuclear-linked site near Natanz. President Trump warned Iran not to 'get cute,' saying the US will strike if diplomacy fails, while Russia and China vetoed a UN resolution to extend the Iran sanctions monitoring panel. CSIS analysts confirm the surge in construction activity in 2026, with more road traffic than at any point in the site’s history, indicating a shift from excavation to internal buildout and exterior hardening. Experts caution that even the largest US bunker buster may not fully destroy the granite-reinforced facility, but the US can still collapse entrances to disrupt operations. The standoff underscores the limits of military force and the urgent need for verifiable diplomatic progress.
FAQ
What is Pickaxe Mountain?
Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La) is a deeply buried tunnel complex about 2 kilometers south of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility. Iran began building an underground centrifuge assembly facility there in 2020 after suspected Israeli sabotage of an aboveground workshop.
How deep is the facility?
Open-source estimates place the depth between 80 and 100 meters, but these are uncertain because satellite imagery cannot measure internal tunnel design. The site is reinforced with granite and U-bend tunnel entrances to deflect missiles.
Can the US destroy Pickaxe Mountain with conventional weapons?
The largest conventional bunker buster, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, can penetrate about 60 meters of ground before detonating. Given the probable depth and reinforcement, a strike may only collapse entrances rather than destroy the entire complex. Experts suggest the US could bury the entrances to temporarily disable the site.
Why did Russia and China veto the UN resolution on Iran?
Russia and China reject the legal validity of the “snapback” mechanism that the US says restored UN sanctions on Iran. They argue the 2015 nuclear deal’s sanctions were not legally reinstated, and therefore oppose extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts that monitors violations.
What was the June 2026 memorandum of understanding?
The MOU between Iran and the US stated that Iran would maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program. However, satellite imagery shows construction at Pickaxe Mountain continued at a high rate during and after the agreement.
Sources
Canonical URL: /trend/2026/iran-adds-defenses-at-pickaxe-mountain-as-trump-threatens-to-strike
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