Amid the sensitive situation between Washington and Tehran, the “Axe Mountain” file stands out as a major obstacle facing US President Donald Trump, who recently revealed close monitoring of the site without detecting any clear nuclear activity there.
What is "Axe Mountain"?
The site is officially known as "Koh Kulang Gas La," which translates to "Axe Mountain."
It is located less than two kilometers south of the Natanz uranium enrichment complex, which was destroyed in US airstrikes in 2005.
It was excavated deep into Iran's Zagros Mountains, in a strategically important and heavily fortified location.
Depth and Capabilities:-
The site lies at a depth of up to 600 meters below the surface, making it deeper than the previously considered most heavily fortified Fordow facility. It also contains four main tunnel entrances, significantly complicating any attempt to seal it off with airstrikes.
According to experts, this depth may even place it beyond the range of the most powerful US bunker-buster bombs currently available.
Site function:-
1. Manufacturing advanced centrifuges: Experts expect the facility to include factories for manufacturing modern-generation centrifuges.
2. Storage of highly enriched uranium: Intelligence estimates suggest that Iran may have moved part of its stockpile of 60% enriched uranium to the site.
3. The ability to rapidly produce weapons: According to analysts, this site could enable Iran to possess up to 19 nuclear weapons in just 3 months.
The American position and monitoring :-
1. Informed sources indicate that President Trump is closely monitoring the site, recently stating:
2. "We are closely monitoring the Axe Mountain site in Iran and we see no activity there.
3. Their nuclear situation is not good.
4. Every time we hear about something, we destroy it."
Trump is under pressure from his hardline supporters, particularly at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), to resolve the "Axe Mountain" issue as quickly as possible.
American experts maintain that the site represents a serious vulnerability in any claim of destroying Iran's nuclear program.
“The Axe Mountain site is deeper, larger, and better fortified than Fordow,” says Blaise Mistal, vice president of JINSA, warning that it may be beyond the range of U.S. bombs.
Michael Makovsky, president of JINSA, adds, “If there isn’t a complete purge of the Iranian nuclear program—that is, no enriched uranium and no facilities left—then it will be a major missed opportunity.”
International ambiguity and refusal to inspect
Iran has never allowed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit the site, creating what is known as a "blind zone" beyond the reach of international inspectors.
Inspectors have been unable to assess the site since the US strikes in 2015.
Satellite images, including those from Airbus's Pleiades Neo satellite, revealed that Iran **accelerated construction** at the site after the US strikes, and the images showed trucks suspected of transporting highly enriched uranium into the tunnels.
Why wasn't the site targeted?
1. Extreme Depth: Located at a depth of 600 meters, six times deeper than Fordow.
2. Natural Protection: The towering mountain provides formidable natural protection against airstrikes.
3. Multiple Entrances: The presence of four tunnel entrances makes it difficult to seal off with bombs.
4. Intelligence Uncertainty: There is no precise information about its current contents.
Iran’s “Axe Mountain” remains a thorn in the side of the US administration, representing a true test of Trump’s ability to fulfill his promises to destroy Iran’s nuclear program. While Washington insists it is closely monitoring the site, its secrecy, depth, and fortifications make it a complex military and diplomatic challenge that could determine the fate of any future agreement with Tehran.
