Unveiling Iran's Secretive "Pickaxe Mountain" Nuclear Site
In recent years, nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow have become synonymous with Iran's nuclear program. However, a lesser-known facility is gaining attention, particularly after the "Lion’s Leap" operation. This site, referred to as "Pickaxe Mountain," is located near the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, but unlike other facilities, it is deeply embedded within a granite mountain. Experts estimate that this facility lies at a depth of 80 to 100 meters, a strategic choice designed to make it exceptionally challenging to target, even with advanced bunker-busting bombs.
Iran's nuclear program has been constructed on the premise that the United States or Israel might deploy heavy bunker-busting ordnance, such as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, to incapacitate its facilities. Nevertheless, the robust structure of Pickaxe Mountain is believed to be capable of withstanding even such formidable weaponry.
Over the past year, intensified activity has been observed at the site. Satellite imagery has indicated the pouring of new concrete and the replenishment of rocks over tunnel entrances—measures intended to prevent the potential collapse of these entrances from aerial strikes. Despite the accumulation of information, the precise purpose of the facility remains a mystery. Initially, experts speculated it was intended for the assembly of centrifuges, but the extensive excavations and complex architecture suggest that the project might be significantly larger than previously thought.
Strategic Implications and Future Threats
Reports from our Hebrew channel indicate that one of the motivations behind Israeli airstrikes on Iran was an advanced Iranian project, which, if completed, could significantly complicate future military operations. This raises a complex strategic question: If an aerial assault is unlikely to demolish the facility, would a ground operation become the only feasible option?
In both Israel and the United States, officials assert that the objective of their campaign is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear program and enriched uranium. To accomplish this goal, security officials estimate that Pickaxe Mountain will eventually become a central target in their efforts.
As reported by i24news.tv.
