Analysts report increased construction at Iran’s facility beneath Mount Pickaxe
Construction work has intensified over the past year at Iran’s nuclear facility beneath Mount Pickaxe near Natanz, according to an assessment by analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), who reviewed satellite imagery. The work has shifted from active excavation to likely interior fit-out and reinforcement of external structures, the Jerusalem Post reports, citing CNN.
Work near tunnel entrances
According to CSIS’s assessment, road traffic at the site has increased. Tunnel entrances were also raised and reinforced, an internal road network was developed, areas near the entrances were strengthened, and the site was leveled by removing excavated soil.
Analysts believe the facility may have been designed as a protected shelter for Iran’s nuclear program. It could potentially be used for centrifuge assembly, enrichment, or other work related to nuclear weapons. At the same time, due to ongoing construction, CSIS experts assess that the facility is not yet ready for enrichment, if that is indeed its purpose.
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US strike options
According to CNN, the United States has considered Mount Pickaxe as one of the potential targets in the event of an escalation of the war against Iran in recent months. One informed source told the network that the US Department of Defense recently conducted accelerated planning for strikes on Iran’s underground facilities, including the complex beneath Mount Pickaxe.
CSIS notes that the facility may be a difficult target for existing US non-nuclear munitions because of the granite rock surrounding the underground complex. CNN also reported that the United States maintains operational plans for a strike on the facility, although it is unclear whether current US munitions can penetrate deeply enough to destroy what Iran may have placed underground.
The US military is also developing a successor to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator munition, which could potentially strike deeper underground facilities. A contract to create a prototype was signed in September 2025.
