Trump says Iran building deeper nuclear site protected by granite
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Iran’s most potentially dangerous nuclear site is buried 100 meters beneath a granite mountain, according to new assessments, and a non-proliferation expert warns it must be “neutralised” before the US war with Iran ends.
This comes as new figures released by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday showed US and Israeli forces launched Operation Epic Fury in late February and hit more than 7,800 targets in Iran as the conflict entered Day 18.
“Before the United States and Israel end major combat operations against Iran, they must complete two urgent tasks,” said Andrea Stricker, deputy director of the Nonproliferation Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. he said. policy briefing.
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Satellite images show reinforcement efforts in Pickaxe Mountain area as Trump says Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons (Report via Vantor/REUTERS)
“First, they must neutralize Mount Kazma. Second, they must recover or eliminate their stockpile of highly enriched uranium to prevent surviving regime elements from falling into the hands of other hostile states or terrorist proxies.”
High-resolution satellite images taken in mid-February show Iran stepping up efforts to fortify the area at Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La (called Kazma Mountain) against potential air strikes. Institute for Science and International Security.
“At one of the eastern tunnel entrances, rock and soil can be seen being pushed back and flattened over the tunnel gate,” the institute said. report in question.
“In addition, a concrete-reinforced cap for the tunnel entrance extension was added last month. This allows for additional overburden in the form of rock, soil or concrete.”
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Satellite image shows an overview of the Mount Kazma tunnel complex in Natanz. (Report via Vantor/REUTERS)
The report noted visible piles of construction materials near the entrances and stated that “these efforts strengthened the tunnel portals and provided additional protection against air attack.”
Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is one of President Donald Trump’s stated war goals. In June 2025, US forces launched attacks on nuclear facilities including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Iran had approximately 441 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium as of June 2025; This was enough material for multiple nuclear weapons if enriched to weapons level. International Atomic Energy Agency.
Its director general, Rafael Grossi, also said on March 9 that the UN watchdog believes Iran’s stockpile of about 200 kilograms of highly enriched uranium is still stored in deep tunnels of a nuclear complex outside Isfahan.
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President Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday, February 28, 2026 that the United States launched an attack on Iran. (White House via X Account/Anatolia via Getty Images)
Additional quantities of highly enriched uranium are believed to be at another nuclear center at Natanz, where Iran is building a new fortified underground facility at Mount Kazma, Grossi added.
Meanwhile, on March 9, Trump noted Iran’s efforts to resume nuclear activity deeper in the region, saying Tehran continues to pursue nuclear weapons “even after destroying its major nuclear sites.”
“They were starting to work in another area, a different area protected by granite… they wanted to go much deeper and started the process,” Trump said. reports.
According to Stricker, the “different site” Trump is referring to is Mount Kazma, where he said Iran has been building a centrifuge assembly plant there since 2021. This area is one mile from the Natanz enrichment facility.
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“The size of the facility and the protection provided by the high mountain raised immediate concerns about whether additional sensitive activities, such as uranium enrichment, were planned,” the Institute for Science and International Security also wrote in its report. he said.
The Wall Street Journal said in early March that a vehicle had been hit outside the facility, possibly by Israel, and then suggested the vehicle attack was evidence that the United States and Israel were keeping a watchful eye on the mountain.
