Iran Conflict: What Is ‘Pickax Mountain’ and Why Does Trump Want to Bomb It?
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned about bombing Iran’s suspected underground nuclear site known as ‘Pickax Mountain.’ Recently, satellite images have revealed ongoing construction at the location. ‘Pickax Mountain’ is one of the few sites connected to Iran’s nuclear program that has not previously been targeted by the US. There have been unconfirmed reports that Iran stores enriched uranium there, which can be further processed to produce nuclear weapons.
Speaking with journalists on July 21, Trump said, “We will soon strike that area, and it will be very powerful.” A week later, on July 28, he reiterated, “I know exactly what is going on at Pickax Mountain. It is not a big problem. We have already eliminated their nuclear facilities; if a deal isn’t made, Pickax will have to be destroyed as well.” On July 22, however, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bagheri declared there is no nuclear activity at Pickax Mountain and dismissed US warnings as “an excuse for aggression, destruction, and sabotage.”
Pickax Mountain is also referred to as ‘Kuh-e-Kolang.’ The site lies just south of Natanz, Iran’s largest nuclear enrichment facility. It is believed that a deep underground complex has been developed inside the mountain. The true purpose of this facility remains largely undisclosed, keeping nuclear-related details cloaked in secrecy. Iran’s former Atomic Energy Organization head Ali Akbar Salehi stated in 2020 that a “modern, large, and extensive infrastructure” was being built inside a mountain near Natanz, though he did not specifically name Pickax Mountain at the time.
The Pickax Mountain site is likely designed to be protected from aerial attacks. Experts estimate that the main part of the facility is nearly 100 meters underground, much deeper than Iran’s other nuclear sites at Fordow and Natanz. According to analysis from the US Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), Iran has already sealed off two eastern tunnel entrances.
Nonetheless, specialists caution that even advanced bombs might struggle to fully destroy Pickax Mountain. Arman Mahmoudian, a researcher at the University of South Florida, explained, “Due to its deep and complex underground structure, completely demolishing the entire facility is extremely difficult.” However, he added that a US strike could target tunnel entrances, communications systems, access routes, and auxiliary infrastructure to disrupt operations. Still, significant portions deep underground are likely to survive.