Israel Assesses Iran's Nuclear Ambitions in Mountain Tunnel Facility

Israeli intelligence sources have revealed that Iran is utilizing tunnels within Mount Pikaqs, potentially moving thousands of uranium enrichment centrifuges into the underground complex. According to Israeli intelligence, this equipment was transferred in the autumn of 2025, following a 12-day conflict and the IDF's "People Like a Lion" operation. This information has been shared with the United States, as reported by the Ynet news portal. The granite massif of Mount Pikaqs is believed to offer protection against even the most powerful U.S. bunker-buster munitions.

In June 2025, the U.S. employed such bombs in Operation "Midnight Hammer," targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure. However, a deeply buried facility in Isfahan was only sealed, with the Pentagon acknowledging that even the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bomb does not guarantee the complete destruction of such a structure. A source familiar with Pentagon discussions indicated that the U.S. has developed plans to strike Mount Pikaqs using its largest aerial bombs, though military officials express doubt about their ability to penetrate the mountain's depth and destroy the equipment inside.

Earlier reports indicated that Iran has significantly accelerated construction at a suspected nuclear facility buried deep within a granite massif near Natanz, with satellite data showing intensified work in 2026. Additionally, there are concerns in Tehran that Iran might lose its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that could serve as a potent tool for short-term pressure.