Trump indicated that the US could target Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried nuclear facility located about one mile south of the Natanz enrichment complex, amid escalating military tensions with Tehran.
During remarks on Iran’s nuclear capabilities earlier today, Trump suggested the site could become a target for future military action, according to analysis published by Crypto Briefing. The Shahid Alimohammadi facility, officially known as Pickaxe Mountain or Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā, has never been inspected by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors, as Iran has not declared it as an enrichment facility and has barred access to the site.
Iran continues construction at Pickaxe Mountain in violation of the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17, according to analysis from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Satellite imagery from late June showed vehicle activity on roads leading to the site’s tunnel portals, indicating ongoing construction inside the complex and hardening of tunnel entrances against potential strikes, the Institute for Science and International Security reported on July 2.
The facility’s extreme depth makes it a singular challenge for military planners. Analysts estimate the underground halls at Pickaxe Mountain extend between 260 and 330 feet below the surface, potentially deeper than the Fordow enrichment plant, which the US struck in June 2025. This depth may render the site impervious to conventional airstrikes, according to experts cited by the New York Times and Washington Post.
Trump has previously cited Iran’s resumed nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain as justification for military strikes conducted between February and April 2026. Since the June 2025 war, Iran has severely limited IAEA access to its nuclear sites, barring inspectors from damaged facilities entirely and refusing to grant access to Pickaxe Mountain under Iran’s comprehensive safeguards agreement.
The Trump administration’s focus on the site reflects broader concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Western intelligence agencies suspect Tehran is building an undeclared uranium enrichment plant at Pickaxe Mountain, though Iran has maintained since 2021 that the facility is a centrifuge manufacturing plant. The site’s construction began in late 2020 and has accelerated significantly in recent months, with Iran using the facility as a focal point for nuclear work while other major sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—remain largely inactive following US strikes.
Trump’s statement came as the US launched fresh military strikes on Iran for a third consecutive night. The escalation marks a sharp breakdown in the ceasefire that had held since early June, with both sides exchanging strikes across the Persian Gulf region.
Sources
- Crypto Briefing — Trump’s statement hinting at potential military action against Pickaxe Mountain on July 13, 2026
- Foundation for Defense of Democracies — Analysis of Iran’s continued construction at Pickaxe Mountain in violation of the U.S.-Iran MOU, July 8, 2026
- Institute for Science and International Security — Satellite imagery analysis showing vehicle activity and construction at the site as of July 2, 2026
- Washington Post — Estimates of Pickaxe Mountain’s depth at 260 to 330 feet, September 2025
- The New York Times — Reporting on the facility’s potential imperviousness to airstrikes, April 2026
- CNN — Coverage of ongoing US military strikes on Iran, July 12-13, 2026
