Donald Trump Says US Preparing Strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Facility

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that American forces are preparing to target Iran's Pickaxe Mountain underground nuclear facility, signalling a potential new phase in Washington's military campaign against Tehran. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump stated that a strike on the heavily fortified site near the Natanz nuclear complex could happen shortly.

"We’ll be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily," Trump said. He added that he was speaking publicly about the potential target because he believes Iranian forces lack the capacity to prevent an attack. US Confirms Third Soldier Killed in Iran Attack on Jordan Base, War Death Toll Rises to 18.

Intelligence Reports Highlight Strategic Shift to Underground Tunnels

The president's comments come amid Israeli intelligence reports suggesting Tehran has transferred critical nuclear equipment underground. According to intelligence assessments shared with Washington, thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges—and potentially a portion of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile—were moved into deep subterranean tunnels at Pickaxe Mountain following previous Western military strikes.

When asked directly whether centrifuges had been relocated to the mountain, Trump acknowledged the possibility but noted it had not been officially verified on record. However, Trump downplayed concerns regarding the movement of centrifuges alone, emphasizing that U.S. surveillance remains focused on enriched nuclear fuel. "It doesn't mean anything unless they have the material," Trump stated. "We follow the material. That's where the action is."

Strategic Importance of Pickaxe Mountain

Pickaxe Mountain, officially known as the Shahid Alimohammadi facility or Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, is located in Isfahan province roughly two kilometers southwest of the main Natanz enrichment complex. Construction at the site began in late 2020 after an above-ground centrifuge assembly plant at Natanz was destroyed in a sabotage operation. Tehran has consistently maintained that the location is intended purely for manufacturing advanced centrifuges. Iran Strikes US Assets Across Gulf, Says Amazon Data Infrastructure in Bahrain, Missile Defence Radar, F-15 Aircraft in Jordan Destroyed.

US Preparing to Hit Iran's Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Facility

VIDEO | Washington DC, US: US President Donald Trump says the United States will strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain facility near the Natanz uranium enrichment site "pretty soon."

(Source: Third Party)

(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/h8mVAH8OMA

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 22, 2026

However, Western nuclear analysts and intelligence agencies view the complex as a key safeguard for Iran's nuclear capabilities. Satellite assessments indicate the underground halls are carved more than 100 meters below solid bedrock, featuring multiple hardened tunnel portals designed to withstand conventional aerial bombardment.

Escalating Conflict and Fortified Defenses

Unlike other primary nuclear sites in Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz, Pickaxe Mountain was not directly hit during prior joint military operations. Its extreme depth has led military experts to debate whether traditional heavy munitions, such as bunker-buster bombs, could fully destroy the deep subterranean structure without specialized targeting strategies.

Responding to concerns over the site's structural integrity, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that while specific capabilities remain classified, the American military retains options to reach deep-structure targets. Iranian military leaders have warned that any future strikes against nuclear infrastructure will be met with direct retaliation against U.S. regional assets and allied installations. Meanwhile, Washington continues to monitor the complex closely via satellite surveillance as military preparations move forward.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 08:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).