What is Iran's Pickaxe Mountain and why does Trump say he wants to bomb it?

NEWS SUMMARY

Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear site near Natanz, citing unproven claims of enriched uranium storage. Iran's foreign ministry denies nuclear activity there, calling the threats a pretext for aggression, while satellite imagery shows ongoing construction and tunnel hardening at the deeply buried facility.

Full BriefOn request

BBC Verify has spoken to experts and analysed satellite imagery to piece together what we know about the site, and the potential impact of a US strike.

What is Iran's Pickaxe Mountain and why does Trump say he wants to bomb it?

DAILY BRIEFING

Follow Iran

Get a daily briefing with the most critical developments from every active conflict zone. Concise. Verified. Free.

Ukraine–RussiaIsrael–PalestineUnited StatesSudan / DarfurMyanmarEthiopia / TigrayLebanonVenezuelaIran

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Verified sources only.

This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from BBC Middle East. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.

READ ORIGINAL

SHARE ON X WHATSAPP REDDIT

CONFLICT OVERVIEW

Iran

Latest verified updates on Iran’s regional confrontation, U.S.–Israeli strikes, missile retaliation, proxy networks, sanctions, and Strait of Hormuz risks.

MORE REPORTING ON THIS REGION

Recent reporting from this region. These stories may cover different events.

center

'Negotiations going fine': Trump says Iran wants to make a deal

Middle East Eye

Iran could revisit nuclear weapons ban if war resumes, security chief says

Middle East Eye

right

Hezbollah unlikely to attack Israel in case of US-Iran war unless regime under threat - report

Jerusalem Post — Iran News

Trump says US ready to hit Iran's nuclear program 'in ten minutes' after speaking with Netanyahu

Jerusalem Post — Iran News