Satellite Images Reveal Major Construction at Suspected Iranian Nuclear Site as US Weighs Deep-Strike Options

Recent satellite imagery reveals a surge in construction activity this year at Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected Iranian nuclear site buried deep under granite near the Natanz nuclear complex. According to analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the underground facility is likely designed to serve as a secure haven for Iran's nuclear program.

Israeli intelligence suggests Iran may be looking to relocate centrifuges to the location for uranium enrichment. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against the site, stating last week that a strike could happen very soon. However, the granite mountain poses a significant challenge, presenting a difficult target even for the Pentagon's heaviest non-nuclear bunker-busting weapons.

Despite these challenges, evidence suggests the US is actively developing methods to strike deeply buried targets. Federal contracting records show that an emergency $1.2 million contract was awarded to Pate Construction to repair a subterranean test facility at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico for live-fire testing against emerging threats. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed the tests are connected to the ongoing conflict with Iran and the need to target deeply buried facilities.

The US previously targeted Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 during Operation Midnight Hammer. While those strikes destroyed several key locations, a top US general acknowledged that the deeply buried Isfahan nuclear site survived because current Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs could not penetrate deep enough. In response, the US military is working on developing a next-generation penetrator bomb.

Satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows that excavation work at the Alternate Seismic Hardrock in Situ Test Site in White Sands began in mid-February, aligning with the timing of the emergency contract. While the exact purpose of the recent work remains unconfirmed and the Pentagon has not immediately responded to inquiries, the US military maintains operational strike plans for Pickaxe Mountain as planning efforts regarding underground facilities continue.