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Iran moved nuclear centrifuges into Pickaxe Mountain, Israeli intelligence believes - report

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Iran has reportedly moved thousands of uranium enrichment centrifuges to underground facilities deep inside Pickaxe Mountain, according to Israeli and US officials.
  • This transfer, occurring after recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, raises concerns about Tehran's efforts to ensure continued uranium enrichment even under attack.
  • The fortified underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain is deeper and more protected than other known Iranian nuclear sites, and inspectors are being denied access.

Iran has transferred thousands of uranium enrichment centrifuges to underground facilities deep within Pickaxe Mountain, a move that heightens concerns among Israeli and US officials about Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The Wall Street Journal reported the transfer occurred last fall, following a 12-day war in June during which American and Israeli strikes targeted three of Iran's main nuclear sites.

US and Israeli officials believe the relocation of sensitive equipment deep inside the mountain is a strategic effort by Tehran to guarantee continued uranium enrichment capabilities, even if its nuclear facilities face large-scale military attacks. Pickaxe Mountain is situated south of the Natanz nuclear complex, which houses two uranium enrichment plants that were struck during the recent conflict.

The tunnel facility under construction at Pickaxe Mountain, according to the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), was not targeted during the war. Satellite imagery indicates the complex is carved more than 100 meters below bedrock, making it significantly deeper and more fortified than Iran's Fordow enrichment facility. Reaching such depths presents a complex engineering challenge, even for advanced bunker-penetrating weaponry.

While Tehran asserts the site is solely for the production and assembly of advanced centrifuges, Iranian authorities are preventing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from accessing the location. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has demanded answers from Iran regarding its activities at Pickaxe Mountain, but the country has failed to provide verifiable information or rule out the presence of nuclear material within the mountain.

The site's relative immunity due to its depth has made it a focal point in the confrontation with the United States. President Donald Trump has previously threatened to eliminate the site, and his administration is reportedly closely monitoring activity around its tunnel entrances.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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