Full Breakdown
Iran’s Deep-Underground “Pickaxe Mountain” Facility: Centrifuges, Surveillance and U.S.–Israeli Responses
7/22/2026, 12:28:07 AM
Core Event
Israeli and U.S. intelligence assessments reported by the *Wall Street Journal* say Iran moved “thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges” into a newly-carved underground complex called Pickaxe Mountain (Mount Kolang Gaz La) after the 12-day war in June 2025. The site lies about 1.5 km south of the Natanz nuclear complex, roughly 220 km south of Tehran, and is excavated to a depth of 90–137 m (300–450 ft) beneath solid granite, deeper than the Fordow facility. Iran has denied IAEA inspectors access, and officials have not disclosed whether the centrifuges are operational.
Background & Context
- June 2025 war (“Midnight Hammer”) – The United States and Israel struck Natanz, Fordow and a third site.
- Post-war relocation – Satellite imagery shows sustained truck traffic and tunnel reinforcement at Pickaxe Mountain for about 15 months, suggesting ongoing construction and possible storage of equipment displaced by the strikes.
- Prior underground work – The tunnels were originally intended as a replacement for a centrifuge-assembly plant damaged in a 2020 explosion at Natanz.
Data & Statistics
- Centrifuge quantity – “Thousands” of units transferred; exact numbers undisclosed.
- Location – About 2 km from Natanz and 220 km south of Tehran.
- Enriched uranium stock – Iran has produced roughly 450 kg (? 992 lb) of uranium enriched to 60 % purity, close to weapons-grade (Ynet).
Official Statements & Responses
- IAEA – Director-General Rafael Grossi has repeatedly demanded answers about activities at Pickaxe Mountain and noted Iran’s 2021 declaration of “intention to have nuclear activity” there.
- U.S. – “We’ll be hitting that area very, probably pretty soon, and there’s not a thing they can do about it,” said the U.S. president.
- IRGC – “The great operation of Islam’s fighters has begun to punish the American army for disrupting the security of the Strait of Hormuz and attacking parts of our homeland.”
Criticism & Opposition
No named critics offered substantive counter-arguments; nuclear experts simply note the site’s purpose remains unverified.
On-the-Ground Reports
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Origin of centrifuges – Sources differ on whether they came from Natanz, Fordow or other sites; no definitive source identified.
- Operational status – Some analysts deem the presence of centrifuges “plausible,” but the IAEA has not verified active enrichment and Iran provides no details.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The great operation of Islam’s fighters has begun to punish the American army for disrupting the security of the Strait of Hormuz and attacking parts of our homeland.” — IRGC
- “We’ll be hitting that area very, probably pretty soon, and there’s not a thing they can do about it,” — U.S. president
Why It Matters
The depth and fortification of Pickaxe Mountain complicate conventional bunker-busting strikes, affecting U.S. and Israeli strategic calculations. If the site houses operational centrifuges, Iran could resume a rapid enrichment pathway toward weapons-grade material, shortening the timeline for a nuclear breakout. An ineffective strike could embolden Tehran and raise regional tension as U.S. forces continue air operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
What’s Next
U.S. and Israeli officials indicate a decision on a direct strike could be forthcoming, though no deadline is disclosed. The IAEA continues to request access, and its ability to inspect the site will shape diplomatic and military options in the coming months.
