US President Donald Trump has renewed his focus on a secret Iranian mountain facility known as ‘Pickaxe Mountain’, saying the US is closely monitoring the site. The underground complex has drawn global attention because experts believe it is built so deep that even America’s most powerful bunker-buster bombs may not be able to destroy it.
In a recent interview on The Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump said the US is keeping a close watch on Pickaxe Mountain and suggested that it could become a future military target.
He claimed that whenever the US identifies an Iranian nuclear site, it takes action against it, adding that Iran should be prepared for what comes next. Trump also said the US plans to strike Pickaxe Mountain in the future.
What is Pickaxe Mountain?
Known in Persian as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, the facility has been nicknamed ‘Pickaxe Mountain’ by the US military. The secret site is hidden within Iran’s Zagros mountain range, around 2 kilometres from the Natanz nuclear facility, one of Iran’s most important nuclear sites.
Iran has reportedly been expanding the underground complex since 2020, digging deep tunnels and large underground chambers beneath the mountain.
Built Near the Damaged Natanz Plant
The underground project gained attention after the Natanz nuclear facility was heavily damaged in earlier attacks.
While Iran initially said the construction was meant to replace a destroyed centrifuge assembly plant, satellite imagery and expert analysis have since suggested that the underground complex is much larger than previously believed.
Why US Bunker-Buster Bombs May Not Be Enough
According to investigative reports by Reuters and The Washington Post, US officials believe the underground facility is too deep for even America’s most advanced bunker-buster bombs to destroy.
Military experts estimate that US bunker-buster weapons can penetrate around 200 feet of earth and rock or 20 feet of reinforced concrete. However, the underground chambers at Pickaxe Mountain are believed to be located 260 to 330 feet below the surface, making them far more difficult to reach.
Experts also believe the site is deeper than Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, which has long been considered one of the country’s most secure nuclear locations.
Construction Reportedly Continues
Recent satellite images reviewed by The Washington Post indicate that construction at Pickaxe Mountain has continued despite previous attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The images reportedly show new security walls around the mountain, reinforced tunnel entrances, fresh excavation work and heavy construction equipment operating at the site.
Defence analysts believe Iran may be moving sensitive nuclear equipment and materials deeper underground to protect them from future air strikes.
Concerns Over Enriched Uranium
Some experts are concerned that Iran may have transferred part of its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium to the underground complex.
However, there is no public confirmation that the material has been moved there. The site has reportedly not been inspected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), meaning claims about what is stored inside remain unverified.
A Strategic Challenge
If Pickaxe Mountain is being used to protect key parts of Iran’s nuclear programme, it could become one of the most difficult military targets for the US.
Its reported depth, reinforced construction and continued expansion have made it a major focus of security analysts, even as many details about the secretive facility remain unclear.
First published on: Jul 15, 2026 07:07 AM IST
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