US President Donald Trump Threatens Devastating Strike on Iran's Deep Underground 'Pikaxe Mountain' Nuclear Facility
Key Highlights:
- Strategic Importance: Situated 80 to 100 meters deep inside the Zagros mountains, Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La (Pikaxe Mountain) has been fortified with reinforced concrete, anti-aircraft systems, and heavy tunnel networks since 2020 to house advanced centrifuges and potentially store enriched uranium.
- Military Challenges: Military experts note that destroying such a deeply buried facility using conventional weapons—even US GBU-57 MOP bunker-buster bombs dropped by B-2 stealth bombers—is exceptionally difficult, making 'operational paralysis' and blocking access the primary tactical goals.
- Regional Fallout: Iran has warned that any such strike will turn the region into hell, raising fears of retaliatory proxy attacks, disruptions in oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and broader geopolitical instability across the Middle East.