Israeli intelligence agencies believe Iran has transferred thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges to a heavily fortified underground facility beneath Pickaxe Mountain, according to multiple media reports citing Israeli and US officials. The alleged relocation is said to have taken place months ago and has intensified international concerns over Tehran’s ability to preserve and potentially expand its nuclear capabilities despite previous military strikes.
The underground complex, located near Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, is believed to be significantly more protected than many of the country’s existing nuclear facilities. Security analysts say the mountain’s depth and reinforced tunnel network could make the site far more resistant to conventional air strikes, complicating any future military options against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
According to reports, Israeli intelligence shared its assessment with the United States, suggesting that Iran quietly relocated the centrifuges following earlier attacks on several of its nuclear installations. However, officials have not publicly disclosed how the intelligence was gathered or whether all of the country’s enrichment equipment has been transferred to the underground site.
The development has also drawn attention because inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reportedly have not been granted access to the Pickaxe Mountain facility. The absence of international inspections has fuelled speculation about the site’s exact role and whether it could support uranium enrichment or the storage of sensitive nuclear equipment.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes, including electricity generation and scientific research. Tehran has repeatedly denied accusations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons and has criticised what it describes as politically motivated allegations from Western governments and Israel.
Experts believe the reported relocation, if confirmed, would represent a strategic effort to safeguard critical nuclear assets from future military attacks. The underground complex’s location beneath solid rock and its extensive tunnel system could significantly increase the difficulty of targeting the facility using conventional bunker-buster munitions.
The reported move comes at a time of heightened tensions across the Middle East, with Iran’s nuclear activities remaining one of the region’s most sensitive security issues. Western governments continue to monitor developments closely while diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear programme remain uncertain.