Trump vows to attack Iran's underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site

President Donald Trump has threatened to 'very soon' attack the underground Iranian nuclear facility known as Pickaxe Mountain, a probable centrifuge and enrichment site buried at least 100 meters beneath a mountain near Natanz. Source: CNN, elcolombiano

What is Pickaxe Mountain?

Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La) is a heavily fortified underground complex located about 1.5 km south of the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, which was bombed by the US and Israel in June 2025. Construction began in 2020, and Iran told the IAEA it would be a centrifuge assembly plant. Source: CNN, infobae The site spans 2.7 square kilometers, with multiple tunnel entrances, reinforced concrete, and anti-air defenses manned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Source: elcolombiano, infobae According to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), the facility is buried at least 100 meters deep, making it a difficult target even for the US GBU-57 'bunker buster' bomb. Source: elcolombiano

The Threat and Reactions

On July 22, 2026, Trump stated: 'We're going to hit that area... probably very soon. And there's nothing they can do about it.' Source: CNN Iran responded that any attack on its nuclear sites would be considered an escalation of the regional conflict. Source: CNN, elcolombiano Trump also downplayed Israeli intelligence reports that Iran had moved enriched uranium and advanced centrifuges to the site, saying he had no confirmation. Source: CNN Meanwhile, a security source in Tehran denied the claims, stating the site hosts no nuclear activity. Source: CNN

Disagreements and Uncertainty

• Israel's intelligence: Believes Iran transferred enriched uranium and centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain after the June 2025 attacks. Source: CNN
• Trump's stance: 'I have no knowledge of that,' he said, while still threatening an attack. Source: CNN
• Iran's denial: Officials maintain the site is for peaceful centrifuge assembly only. Source: CNN, elcolombiano

The true purpose and contents of Pickaxe Mountain remain unverified, as the IAEA has never been granted access and no public blueprints exist. Source: infobae Activity at the site has increased since mid-2025, but analysts believe it is not yet fully operational. Source: elcolombiano, CNN