Satellite images show Iran is building new walls around a deep nuclear site called Pickaxe Mountain. The Institute for Science and International Security released a report on Thursday. It says the country placed extra soil over tunnel entrances near Natanz. This work happened just after President Donald Trump warned the regime last week.
The report notes that earthen roadblocks still block access leading to the western tunnels. Experts say this means the site is not used for normal work right now. However, they believe valuable equipment remains inside the mountain. The new soil makes the entrances harder to hit from the air.
Trump issued a sharp warning about these new defenses. He told reporters, according to the New York Post, “We notice there’s a little activity at Pickaxe.” He later remarked that Iran should not try to be clever, as we will be forced to strike them with great force. This comment came one week before the new satellite photos were released.
While these changes happen on the ground, the United Nations held a vote on Thursday. Russia and China blocked a U.S.-drafted resolution. That plan would have kept international monitoring of sanctions on Tehran in place. The White House said the snapback sanctions occurred because the U.S. followed the right steps.
Trump has been watching this site for a long time. In a July 28 interview on “Fox & Friends,” he said the U.S. knows exactly what is going on there. He stated that Washington could “take out Pickaxe” if talks fail. The site sits about two kilometers from the Natanz complex.
Construction at this deep underground facility started in 2020. It began after sabotage damaged a centrifuge assembly plant at Natanz. Iranian officials said they were building a new underground spot for advanced parts. Analysts think some parts of the facility lie at least 100 meters deep.
Some experts wonder if it is too late to strike the site easily. Behnam Ben Taleblu spoke to Fox News Digital about the situation. He noted that some analysts believe the chance for a simple strike has passed. “The window to strike Pickaxe Mountain, according to some, has already expired,” Ben Taleblu said.
He explained that the regime dug the facility several times deeper than Fordow. Despite this depth, he argued that Washington still has military options. Uncle Sam always possesses a larger bomb even if the ideal munition does not yet exist. The U.S. can still show it means business by hitting the entrances.
Trump said he has a big decision coming up regarding the conflict. He told Axios that he is weighing whether to go in and annihilate the regime. He said anything could happen with him as he makes this call. The president plans to meet Gulf leaders in New York soon.
Trump told reporters he hopes the war is ending soon. He said Tehran wants to make a deal and that they deal directly with Washington. He also predicted the conflict would end immediately after the midterm elections. He believes Iran can’t hold out any longer against the pressure.
The U.S. continues to use a naval blockade to cut off revenue. This campaign aims to isolate the regime economically while talks happen. Trump said he is doing much more than just a nuclear deal. He noted there is a lot more than nuclear issues on the table now.
Iran says there is no nuclear activity at the Pickaxe site. The new defenses suggest they are preparing for a long fight or a strike. The U.S. and its allies are waiting to see if the regime will back down.
