A nuclear expert says Pickaxe Mountain could be the key target if President Trump moves to stop Iran’s nuclear program from restarting.
Pickaxe Mountain has emerged as a possible target in the escalating Iran nuclear standoff, with President Trump weighing whether strikes on the underground site could stop Tehran from rebuilding key parts of its program. Nuclear expert Andrea Stricker said the most effective move may be to hit the entrances to the mountain complex, where activity can still be observed from above.
Stricker, who directs the nonproliferation program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said one tunnel system at the site has been hardened and packed with dirt and rock, while another remains open. She said trucks and construction vehicles have been seen coming and going. In her view, bunker-buster bombs may not reach deep enough into the site, which she described as extending 300 to 450 feet through granite. She also said an on-the-ground raid would be dangerous, even though it could allow explosives to be placed in a better position underground.
Trump has publicly signaled that Pickaxe Mountain is on his radar. In a recent interview with Hugh Hewitt, he said the site was a possible target and added that his team was watching it closely. He later said, “We’re going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready.” At a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, he said Iran would grow weaker under pressure and suggested the country would eventually reach a point where it could not continue. He has also said the United States still has “massive” amounts of munitions available despite reports suggesting otherwise.
The warning comes after repeated strikes and counterstrikes in the region, including an overnight attack on a Bermuda-flagged tanker carrying liquified natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iran has not claimed responsibility for that attack. At the same time, Iran has said it is in the final stages of a deal with Oman to partly secure travel through the waterway, and Trump has threatened Iran with “decapitation” if it does not make a deal.
“A nuclear expert says Pickaxe Mountain could be the key target if President Trump moves to stop Iran’s nuclear program from restarting.”
Trump has been even more direct in his public comments over the summer. He said on July 21 that the United States would hit the area “pretty soon, and very heavily.” On July 28, he said, “We took out their nuclear sites, and we’ll have to take out Pickaxe if we don’t make a deal.” Those remarks came as U.S. officials and outside analysts examined what was happening at the mountain and whether Iran was trying to preserve or rebuild parts of its nuclear infrastructure.
The site’s significance stems from its depth and suspected use. After reporting by The Post and the Wall Street Journal, Israel said it had intelligence suggesting Iran had moved centrifuges into the secret mountain facility. Stricker said strike options include bunker-busters, using visible ventilation shafts, or, if those fail, destroying the tunnel entrances with precision weapons to deny access and keep the site under watch from the air. The goal would be to keep anyone from reaching the underground chambers while leaving the entrances exposed to surveillance.
An analysis last month by the Institute for Science and International Security, written by David Albright, said it was still unclear when Pickaxe Mountain could become operational based on satellite imagery alone. The analysis also said it was uncertain whether Iran still intended to install a large-scale assembly facility after the destruction of much of its centrifuge program. Even so, it warned that if Iran rebuilt its centrifuge manufacturing capability, it could use the mountain for a smaller assembly facility that would support a nuclear weapons program.
For the Pentagon, the picture is more favorable than it was earlier this year. Stricker said repeated American and Israeli strikes have pushed back Tehran’s nuclear breakout timeline by as much as 2.5 years. The next move on Pickaxe Mountain could shape whether that delay holds, and whether Iran can turn a hidden site into a renewed threat. For Americans, the issue matters because what happens at this mountain could affect U.S. military posture, regional shipping lanes, and the risk of another wider conflict.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Pickaxe Mountain important?
It is described as an underground site tied to Iran’s nuclear activities. Analysts and Trump have both treated it as a potential target.
What option does Andrea Stricker favor?
She said the best option may be to destroy the tunnel entrances with precision munitions. She argued that deeper strikes might not reach the site effectively.
What has Trump said about the site?
He has said Pickaxe Mountain is being watched closely and called it a possible target. He also said the United States would take it out if no deal is reached.
How could this affect the United States?
The dispute could shape U.S. military action and the security of shipping through the Strait Of Hormuz. It also affects the broader risk of conflict in the region.
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