{"id":8508,"date":"2026-09-09T23:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=8508"},"modified":"2026-09-09T23:09:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T23:09:14","slug":"iran-is-beefing-up-its-underground-pickaxe-mountain-nuclear-base-as-trump-threatens-to-strike-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=8508","title":{"rendered":"Iran is beefing up its underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear base \u2014 as Trump threatens to strike it"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Construction work has been speeding up at Iran\u2019s secret Pickaxe Mountain nuclear base, analysts found \u2014 as the Trump administration weighs how to pierce through the deep, underground facility. <\/p>\n

Read more Iran fires electro-optical missile for first time \u2014 aiming at US warships: report<\/a><\/p>\n

A six-year satellite analysis of the mountain fortress, located near the Natanz nuclear facility, revealed that construction activity at the site shot up this year \u2014 likely in an attempt to transform the site into a safe haven for Iran\u2019s nuclear program, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank concluded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a clear surge in construction activity in 2026 that corresponds to the raising and hardening of the portal accesses, paving of the internal road network, reinforcement around access areas, and the flattening and removal of excavation spoil,\u201d the CSIS wrote in its latest report. <\/p>\n

More concerning \u2014 the site is buried more than 300 feet underground, potentially out of reach of America\u2019s biggest bunker-buster bombs.<\/p>\n

Work began speeding up at the Pickaxe Mountain facility in October 2025, the CSIS found, around the time Israeli intelligence warned the Trump administration that Iran was allegedly moving uranium centrifuges and components to the underground base. <\/p>\n

While the CSIS could not comment on the Israeli claim, the work being done suggests Iran is attempting to quickly reinforce the base following last year\u2019s June war, where the US and Israel bombed Iran\u2019s nuclear sites.<\/p>\n

The work appeared centered on digging out the entrances buried from the attacks, with Iran likely fortifying the entrances to keep the site open from future attacks. <\/p>\n

Along with the reinforcement, Iran appeared to be conducting \u201cinternal construction,\u201d at the deep mountain base, but the site is still \u201cnot yet capable of enrichment work,\u201d the CSIS found. <\/p>\n

Tehran also continued the work at Pickaxe Mountain even during the temporary cease-fire with the US under the memorandum of understanding, which was against the terms of the truce, researchers found.<\/p>\n

Read more Exclusive | Speaker Johnson dubs Mamdani, far-left pals most \u2018dangerous\u2019 politicians in US, predicts \u2018nightmare\u2019 for Hakeem Jeffries<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cCSIS imagery analysis confirms that construction activity continued at a high rate during the period covered by the MOU,\u201d the think tank wrote. <\/p>\n

The dangers posed by Pickaxe Mountain, buried at least\u00a0328 feet under the Kolang Mountain, prompted President Trump to repeatedly threaten strikes at the base. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe may hit Pickaxe very soon,\u201d Trump told reporters last week. <\/p>\n

Destroying the base, however, presents a difficult challenge as its depth keeps it protected from the powerful bunker buster bombs known to be in America\u2019s arsenal. <\/p>\n

The GBU-57 is capable of penetrating up to 200 feet underground before exploding, some 130 feet above Pickaxe\u2019s deepest reaches.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

American, however, is currently working on developing its next generation penetrator bombs, with secret tests indicating the new bombs could dig through the same type of stone at Pickaxe Mountain, CNN reported. <\/p>\n

It is unclear how far along the new penetrator bombs are in development or if they have been fully tested and ready to be rolled out. <\/p>\n

The US could also opt to attack the base\u2019s entrances and bury it as it did with Iran\u2019s missile facilities, but experts have noted that the Islamic republic has proven it can dig out its bases time and time again. <\/p>\n

Read more FDNY deaths from 9\/11-related illnesses have now surpassed toll from terror attacks, advocates reveal<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Construction work has been speeding up at Iran’s secret Pickaxe Mountain nuclear base, analysts found \u2014 as the Trump administration weighs how to pierce through the deep, underground facility. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8507,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"yoast_head":"\nIran is beefing up its underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear base \u2014 as Trump threatens to strike it - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=8508\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Iran is beefing up its underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear base \u2014 as Trump threatens to strike it - 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