Where is Iran’s uranium really stored? Despite Pentagon’s success in striking nuclear sites, experts warn Iran may have hidden its bomb-grade stockpile in a mountain too deep for US bunker busters to reach.
Where Is Iran’s Uranium Now? Here’s What the Pentagon Revealed About Iran’s Secret Nuclear Moves
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Pentagon has now aligned with President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States’ recent military strikes caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These strikes, described as part of the largest joint US-Israeli air campaign in decades, were aimed at crippling Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons.
However, the long-term effectiveness of these strikes is now being questioned amid growing intelligence reports that suggest Iran may have successfully hidden its most critical nuclear materials before the attacks began.
The US administration has publicly denied claims that Iran relocated its highly enriched uranium ahead of the strikes. White House officials stated that “there was no indication to the United States that any of that enriched uranium was moved prior to the strike,” maintaining that all visible nuclear material remained in place.
Yet, several European intelligence agencies and nuclear experts are now challenging that narrative. According to them, satellite imagery taken just days before the operation showed suspicious vehicle activity near Iran’s well-known Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, suggesting a potential emergency transfer of critical materials.
At the center of this new theory is a mysterious, fortified underground location referred to as Ku Kolang Gazla, also known as Pickax Mountain. This clandestine site, reportedly near the city of Natanz, is believed to be so deeply buried—nearly a mile above sea level and dug into layers of solid rock—that even the US military’s most powerful bunker buster bombs might not be able to reach it. Experts are calling this a strategic game-changer.
Intelligence reports now suggest that Iran’s 408.6-kilogram stockpile of 60% enriched uranium—sufficient for constructing up to nine nuclear warheads—may have been discreetly transferred to this impenetrable site.
The Pentagon, in an attempt to demonstrate American military superiority, recently released a video showcasing the sheer power of its bunker buster bombs, specifically the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. These bombs are designed to penetrate deeply buried facilities. However, analysts are expressing growing concern that Pickax Mountain could be beyond even these weapons’ capabilities due to the extreme depth and geological structure of the location.
The implications are serious. While the recent US-led strikes may have temporarily disrupted Iran’s visible nuclear operations, they may not have halted the country’s progress toward weaponization. Instead, they might have pushed Iran to go deeper—both literally and figuratively—into hiding its nuclear program under a new, ultra-secure veil of secrecy.
This evolving situation has raised alarms within intelligence communities and among international nuclear watchdogs.
As the dust begins to settle on this high-stakes operation, it’s becoming increasingly clear that while Iran’s nuclear facilities may have been damaged, its nuclear ambitions remain dangerously intact. Shielded under mountains and fortified bunkers, Iran may now possess a nuclear capability that could be far harder to monitor, let alone destroy. The world is watching closely, but the shadows surrounding Pickax Mountain continue to deepen.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available sources, media briefings, expert commentary, satellite imagery analysis, and reports from international intelligence agencies. While every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy and completeness, the nature of geopolitical developments, military operations, and intelligence activities involves a degree of secrecy, speculation, and evolving information.
The claims regarding the existence of secret nuclear facilities, the movement of uranium, and the extent of damage caused by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes are drawn from interpretations of available data and are not officially confirmed by all parties involved.