The United States and Iran are in a tense standoff over a nuclear site known as Pickaxe Mountain. U.S. President Donald Trump has issued threats to target this site located near Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. Although bombed during a previous conflict, Pickaxe Mountain remains untouched. Trump suspects Iran may have moved key centrifuges to this fortified site.
Pickaxe Mountain Construction
Situated about 225 kilometers south of Tehran, Pickaxe Mountain sits next to Natanz. Over the years, Natanz has been a focus of international scrutiny due to its nuclear activities. Sabotage attempts, including one attributed to Israel, prompted Iran to develop the Pickaxe Mountain site.
The site spans 2.7 square kilometers and is heavily guarded. Satellite images show multiple entry points, and reports suggest the facility may lie between 80 to 100 meters deep. Some experts believe excavation continues deeper, which could allow uranium enrichment and centrifuge production within.
The size and depth of the facility make it a significant challenge. The U.S. developed the GBU-57 bomb for such targets, capable of piercing 60 meters of earth. It remains uncertain if it can reach Pickaxe Mountain’s depths.
International Concerns and Threats
“We’ll be hitting that area…soon. Very heavily.” – U.S. President Donald Trump
Amid Iran-U.S. conflicts, Trump highlights Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile. Before past strikes, Iran enriched uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels. Although enrichment hasn’t resumed openly, concerns persist.
Iran claims its facilities in Bushehr and Darkhovin have been targeted, yet denies damage to its nuclear reactors. The United Arab Emirates’ Barakah plant has also come under attack, escalating regional tensions. Iran warns of “required actions” in response.
The West’s Perspective on Iran’s Nuclear Program
In 2025, the U.S. targeted Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz due to uranium enrichment activities. Both the U.S. and Israel aim to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Though Iran asserts its program is peaceful, fears persist about a potential shift towards weaponization.
Since 2003, Iran isn’t believed to have an active military nuclear effort. Yet, threats from Iranian officials to pursue nuclear arms have increased. While Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei declared nuclear weapons un-Islamic, his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has remained silent on the issue.
Constructing a nuclear weapon entails multiple steps, requiring uranium enrichment to 90% purity, bomb assembly, and missile deployment. This process could take months or years, with the risk of detection by intelligence agencies looming.
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