Trump's new target in Iran: underground facility Pickaxe Mountain

U.S. President Trump is reportedly contemplating an escalation of military actions in Iran, with a specific focus on an underground facility dubbed 'Pickaxe Mountain' as a potential next target. This consideration comes after the breakdown of a ceasefire in early July, which has since led to a series of retaliatory strikes between the U.S. and Iran.

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The war is in a new phase.

The facility, described as a network of tunnels within a mountain near the city of Natanz, has been linked to Iran's nuclear program by sources like The Wall Street Journal. However, the exact nature of its operations remains publicly unknown, and concrete evidence of its purpose is scarce. Middle East expert Anders Persson described the site as a "nightmare from a source-critical perspective," noting that while some, particularly Israeli observers, suspect it's involved in nuclear weapons development, there is no definitive proof.

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The ceasefire is over.

Trump himself has indicated the facility is in the U.S. crosshairs, stating in a radio interview, "We will strike Pickaxe Mountain." The U.S. has previously targeted Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz in the summer of 2025, employing powerful GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs. However, the effectiveness of such strikes against deeply buried and fortified Iranian facilities like Pickaxe Mountain is uncertain.

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We will strike Pickaxe Mountain.

Security analyst Albin Aronsson expressed doubt about the feasibility of successfully striking Pickaxe Mountain, even with advanced weaponry. He noted that while the GBU-57 bombs are potent, their penetration depth is limited. Iran's decades of preparation in constructing these bunkers make them exceptionally difficult to destroy. Past successes against Fordow and Natanz were partly due to intelligence about ventilation shafts, information that may not be available for Pickaxe Mountain, potentially requiring a complex combined operation involving special forces alongside aerial bombardment.

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The suspicion, not least from Israeli observers, is that it is a place where Iran is doing things related to developing nuclear weapons. But there is no evidence for that.