Trump Warns of Action Against Iran's Secret Nuclear Site
WHO:
The Guardian - President Trump
The Guardian - Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The Guardian - Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran’s then nuclear chief
The Guardian - Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a US-based thinktank
ABC News - President Donald Trump
WHAT:
The Guardian - Trump stated that the military would be “hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily” regarding Pickaxe Mountain.
The Guardian - The facility at Pickaxe Mountain is estimated to be buried almost 100 metres inside the mountain.
The Guardian - Construction of the facility at Pickaxe Mountain began in 2020.
The Guardian - Trump admitted that US intelligence sees “no activity there” at Pickaxe Mountain.
The Guardian - The ISIS thinktank assessed that the facility is not yet operational, but construction continues.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Pickaxe Mountain is located 220km (140 miles) south of Tehran and 2km (1.2 miles) from the Natanz nuclear facility.
The Guardian - The Natanz site is where two of Iran’s uranium enrichment plants are located.
WHEN:
The Guardian - Construction of the facility at Pickaxe Mountain began in 2020.
The Guardian - The Natanz facility was bombed during the war started by the US and Israel on 28 February and during the 12-day war of 2025.
WHY:
The Guardian - Trump reiterated threats against Iranian nuclear sites to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The Guardian - Iran's intention to have nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain is part of a systematic effort to put sensitive facilities underground.
HOW:
The Guardian - The ISIS thinktank reported that the site features two pairs of entrances and a recently completed security wall.
The Guardian - Aerial attacks on the complex are complicated due to the depth of the facility, and ground operations have been a red line for Trump.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 05:56 UTC)
President Trump has announced that the military will soon be "hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily" in reference to the facility at Pickaxe Mountain, which is buried nearly 100 meters inside the mountain and located about 220 kilometers south of Tehran. Despite Trump's claims, US intelligence reports no activity at the site, and the Institute for Science and International Security indicates that while construction began in 2020, the facility is not yet operational. The ongoing threats against Iranian nuclear sites are part of a broader strategy to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, as the country continues to seek underground locations for its sensitive facilities.