Iran Adds New Defense Measures at Pickaxe Mountain Nuclear Site

Iran has added new mounds of earth and defensive measures to the tunnel entrances of the deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility near Natanz, following potential military intervention threats from US President Donald Trump.

New Fortifications in Satellite Imagery

Satellite images published by the Institute for Science and International Security dated September 11 showed that earth barricades on the roads leading to Pickaxe Mountain remained in place.

The report stated that additional earth was piled over one of the western tunnel entrances and the entrance cluster built in 2007, aiming to protect the facility against airstrikes.

Statements from Trump

These developments occurred a week after US President Donald Trump issued a warning regarding Pickaxe Mountain.

Speaking to reporters, Trump advised Iran 'not to be cute' and stated that they might have to strike the facility very hard.

Structure of the Underground Facility

Located approximately two kilometers from Natanz, Pickaxe Mountain hosts numerous tunnel entrances opening into a deeply buried complex.

While it is estimated that parts of the facility could be buried at least 100 meters beneath the mountain, Iran maintains that no nuclear activities are being conducted at the site.

Work at the Parchin Complex

Alongside the Pickaxe findings, rapid progress was reported in the reconstruction of the Taleghan 2 facility at the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran.

Satellite images showed a cover over the damaged facility and trucks and bulldozers actively operating in the area.

UN Security Council Veto

While military developments continued, a diplomatic clash concerning Iran took place at the United Nations Security Council.

Russia and China vetoed the US draft aimed at maintaining international monitoring of sanctions on Iran.