US and Israeli Intelligence Focus on Deep Underground Iranian Uranium Facility Near Natanz

Israeli and US intelligence agencies have recently concentrated on a secret, heavily fortified Iranian nuclear facility known as "Mount Machoach," located about 100 meters underground and just a few kilometers from the main Natanz nuclear site. Western assessments indicate that Iran began excavation work at this site following the "With the Lion" operation, aiming to shield its uranium enrichment capabilities from satellite surveillance, drones, and heavy bombers. Satellite images revealing fresh concrete pours suggest ongoing efforts to enhance enrichment capacity, potentially pushing uranium purity beyond 60 percent, a threshold toward bomb-grade material.

US President Donald Trump publicly disclosed the existence of this facility, emphasizing that the US military has the capability to reach it. This development is a key factor in rising tensions and fears of renewed conflict with Iran. Israeli security officials are analyzing options to neutralize the fortified site, with current estimates suggesting that only a tactical nuclear weapon could inflict significant damage, a move that would carry extensive international repercussions.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains a central focus for Trump, who recently declared that shipping lanes there remain open to all vessels except those from Iran, against which he has imposed a naval blockade. Trump also retracted a previous statement about charging Gulf states a 20% fee for US naval protection, instead announcing new trade and investment agreements expected to boost American capital and industrial development.

In related events, the US military completed a third round of strikes against Iran overnight. These five-hour attacks targeted two UAE oil tankers in Omani territorial waters, hit by Iranian cruise missiles. One crew member, an Indian national, was killed, and eight others were injured, four seriously. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility, accusing the US of provoking vessels to use illegal routes. They warned that cooperation with the "aggressive enemy" would cause damage, delays in reopening the strait, and a global energy crisis.

In a phone interview with Newsmax, Trump asserted US control over the Strait of Hormuz and vowed to maintain it, especially after reinstating the naval blockade. He stated, "We allow everyone to pass except those doing business with Iran." Earlier, in the White House Oval Office, he declared, "We are destroying all of Iran’s capabilities related to the strait. Eventually, I think we will simply control the whole thing."