HOUSTON: Israeli intelligence believes Iran has relocated thousands of nuclear centrifuges to a heavily fortified tunnel complex beneath Pickaxe Mountain, prompting renewed concerns in Washington and Jerusalem over Tehran’s nuclear activities, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report says the equipment was transferred to the underground facility, also known as Mount Kolang, following the 12-day conflict in June, during which US and Israeli forces carried out airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites.
Israeli officials reportedly assess that the deeply buried tunnel network could enable Iran to preserve critical nuclear infrastructure and potentially rebuild parts of its nuclear program despite ongoing discussions over a possible nuclear agreement.
According to the report, the intelligence assessment has intensified debate within the US administration, with President Donald Trump warning that American forces are prepared to launch strikes on the Pickaxe Mountain site if necessary.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he was aware of reports that centrifuges had been relocated to the underground complex and indicated that the area could soon face heavy military action.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Washington to expand military pressure on Iran, arguing that further operations are needed to hinder Tehran’s weapons development and reconstruction efforts.
The underground complex at Pickaxe Mountain has reportedly been monitored by US and Israeli intelligence agencies for years. Built near one of Iran’s principal nuclear facilities, the site is believed to have been developed as a replacement for a centrifuge assembly plant damaged in an explosion in 2020.
Experts estimate the tunnel network extends between 300 and 450 feet beneath solid rock, providing enough space to house multiple nuclear-related installations while offering substantial protection against conventional airstrikes.
However, the report notes that moving centrifuges to the underground facility does not necessarily confirm that Iran is establishing a new uranium enrichment site. Analysts suggest Tehran may have relocated the equipment primarily to safeguard it from future attacks.
The origin of the reported centrifuges remains unclear, with officials suggesting they could have been transferred from existing nuclear facilities or from undisclosed storage locations.
The report also highlights that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has not been granted access to the Pickaxe Mountain site since 2021, and Iran has not publicly disclosed the purpose or scope of activities taking place there.
Neither Iran’s Foreign Ministry nor the IAEA had commented on the latest claims at the time of publication.
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