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Iran’s Deep-Buried Nuclear Site Poses Critical Challenge for US-Israeli Forces
Iran’s most dangerous nuclear facility is buried up to 100 meters beneath a granite mountain, according to new assessments, creating a formidable target that experts warn must be neutralized before the current conflict concludes.
As Operation Epic Fury enters its third week, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) revealed Wednesday that U.S. and Israeli forces have struck more than 7,800 targets across Iran since the campaign began in late February.
“Before the United States and Israel end major combat operations against Iran, they must complete two urgent tasks,” said Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in a recent policy briefing. “First, they must neutralize Pickaxe Mountain. Second, they must recover or eliminate highly enriched uranium stocks to prevent them from falling into the hands of surviving regime elements, other adversarial states or terrorist proxies.”
High-resolution satellite imagery from mid-February shows Iran’s accelerated efforts to reinforce the site at Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, known as “Pickaxe Mountain,” against potential airstrikes. The Institute for Science and International Security noted significant defensive improvements in their analysis.
“At one of the eastern tunnel entrances, rock and soil can be seen pushed back and leveled on top of the tunnel portal,” the institute’s report stated. “Additionally, over the last month, a concrete-reinforced headworks for the tunnel entrance extension was added. This allows for additional overburden in the form of rock, soil or concrete.”
These construction activities are deliberately designed to strengthen the tunnel entrances and provide enhanced protection against aerial bombardment. Satellite imagery revealed stockpiles of building materials near the entrances, indicating ongoing fortification work.
Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability remains one of President Donald Trump’s primary war objectives. In June 2025, U.S. forces carried out strikes against key nuclear facilities, including those at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran possessed approximately 441 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% as of June 2025. This stockpile, if further enriched to weapons-grade levels, could produce multiple nuclear weapons.
Rafael Grossi, the IAEA’s director general, stated on March 9 that the UN watchdog believes roughly 200 kilograms of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile remains stored in deep tunnels at a nuclear complex outside Isfahan. Grossi added that additional quantities of highly enriched uranium are likely housed at another nuclear center in Natanz, where Iran has constructed the new fortified underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain.
On March 9, President Trump highlighted Iran’s persistent nuclear ambitions, noting that Tehran has continued pursuing atomic weapons capability “even after we obliterated their key nuclear sites.”
“They were starting work at another site, a different site… that was protected by granite…. They wanted to go a lot deeper, and they started the process,” Trump said.
According to Stricker, the “different site” referenced by Trump is Pickaxe Mountain, where Iran has reportedly been building a centrifuge assembly plant since 2021. The site is located approximately one mile from the Natanz enrichment plant.
“The size of the facility, as well as the protection provided by the tall mountain, raised immediate concerns about whether additional sensitive activities are planned, such as uranium enrichment,” the Institute for Science and International Security warned in its assessment.
In early March, a vehicle near the site was reportedly struck, presumably by Israel. The Wall Street Journal suggested this incident indicates that U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are closely monitoring activities at the mountain complex.
The deeply buried facility represents one of the most challenging targets in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, with its granite mountain protection potentially requiring specialized munitions or alternative approaches to neutralize effectively.
As Operation Epic Fury continues, securing or eliminating Iran’s nuclear capabilities remains a primary strategic objective, with particular focus on the hardened facilities that could enable Tehran to maintain or reconstitute its nuclear program in the future.
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16 Comments
This underground nuclear site is a major strategic asset for Iran, so it’s not surprising they’ve taken extensive measures to fortify it. Neutralizing it will be a significant undertaking for US and Israeli forces.
I’m curious to see how the military campaign against Iran unfolds in the coming weeks. Securing this facility and eliminating the uranium stockpile will be key objectives.
Neutralizing Pickaxe Mountain and securing Iran’s highly enriched uranium stocks are essential steps to prevent this conflict from escalating further. The stakes are incredibly high.
This is a complex and delicate situation that will require a coordinated international response. Diplomacy and de-escalation should remain the overarching goals, even as decisive action is taken.
Iran’s efforts to conceal and protect this nuclear facility are deeply concerning. The experts are right to emphasize the urgent need to address this critical security threat.
Dealing with this underground site will require innovative thinking and precise execution. I hope the US and Israel can find an effective solution that minimizes risks and collateral damage.
This underground nuclear facility is a serious security threat that needs to be addressed immediately. Experts are right to urge decisive action to neutralize it before it can pose an even greater danger.
Safeguarding the region’s stability and preventing nuclear proliferation should be the top priority here. The international community must work together to find a peaceful resolution.
Burying a nuclear site so deep underground makes it an extremely difficult target to destroy. Iran’s efforts to fortify this facility are concerning and require a measured, strategic response.
I hope the US and Israel can find an effective way to address this threat without escalating the conflict further. De-escalation and diplomacy should remain the ultimate goals.
This underground nuclear site poses a critical challenge that demands urgent action. Securing the highly enriched uranium stocks is also a top priority to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.
The experts are right to stress the gravity of this situation. I’m curious to see how the military campaign unfolds and whether a peaceful resolution can still be reached.
The experts are right to sound the alarm on this deep-buried nuclear facility. Its reinforced design makes it a formidable target, but it must be neutralized to safeguard regional security.
I hope the US and Israel can find an effective way to address this threat without triggering a broader escalation of the conflict. Careful planning and precision will be crucial.
Recovering or eliminating Iran’s highly enriched uranium stocks is critical to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. This deep-buried facility adds another layer of complexity to this challenge.
The experts are right to highlight the urgency of this situation. Decisive action is needed, but it must be carefully coordinated to minimize risks and unintended consequences.