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                    "DONALD Trump could unleash an incredible double-tap technique to blow Iran\u2019s \u201cinvincible\u201d 300ft deep nuclear base to smithereens.\n\n\n\nPickaxe Mountain, where Tehran is said to be hiding stockpiles of near weapons-grade uranium, may face Washington\u2019s wrath in the coming weeks.\n\n\nSatellite pictures have revealed a soaring uptick in construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain Credit: Reuters\n\n\n\n\nShrouded in secrecy, the heavily fortified bunker is feared to be where Tehran is constructing an indestructible atomic plant under 300ft of solid granite.\n\n\n\nTo wipe out the compound and potentially pull the plug on the regime\u2019s nuclear ambitions, Washington\u2019s best bet for the job is its GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for The US Sun newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you!\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\nBut this menacing bunker-buster bomb \u2013 which was used for the first time in history only last year \u2013 has a maximum strike depth of 200ft, meaning it will be short by 100ft.\n\n\n\nIt is feared the bomb alone may not be enough to decimate the Iranian nuclear site \u2013 which experts say has an Achilles\u2019 heel.\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\nThe US used MOPs during the 12-day war in 2025 Credit: Unpixs\n\nTrump has threatened to blitz the base several times Credit: Shutterstock Editorial\n\n\nSpencer Faragasso, an expert at the Institute for Science and International Security, said there are two critical weakpoints the US could exploit to annihilate the base.\n\n\n\nHe pointed out a pair of ventilation holes which Washington could look to zero in on if it wants the best chance of obliterating the reinforced facility.\n\n\n\nFaragasso told The Sun: \u201cWe\u2019ve identified two possible ventilation shafts that could be targeted by deep-earth penetrating weapons such as the GBU-57 MOP.\u201d\n\n\n\nHe said these points, if struck precisely in quick succession, would \u201cenable the weapons to get deeper into the mountain to potentially destroy the facility itself\u201d.\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMost read in The US Sun\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\nNew satellite pics have shown the increase in construction Credit: SkyFi/CSIS\n\nB-2 Spirit drops a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb (stock) Credit: USAF\n\n\nThe expert continued: \u201cOne or multiple weapons would follow the other, so you can drop two or three down the same hole, to basically dig deeper into the facility to try to destroy it.\u201d\n\n\n\nPickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified site with two pairs of entrances which lead to two deeply buried tunnel complexes.\n\n\n\nKnown in Farsi as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, the suspected nuclear lab is situated just 2km south of the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.\n\n\n\nIt remained untouched by US-Israeli strikes during the 12-day war in June 2025.\n\n\n\nIsrael believes\u00a0Tehran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges\u00a0deep inside\u00a0Pickaxe Mountain shortly after the targeted bombing campaign of nuclear sites that summer.\n\n\n\nCentrifuges are advanced machines used to create enriched uranium \u2013 which can be used to make both reactor fuel for civilian use but also for nuclear bombs.\n\n\n\nEnriched uranium suitable for atomic weapons needs to be above a 90 per cent purity threshold.\n\n\n\nLast week, experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said satellites had revealed more activity at Pickaxe Mountain in 2026 \u201cthan at any point in the site\u2019s history\u201d.\n\n\n\nTheir analysis showed how construction speed shot up over the last year and that Tehran had thrown up a new ring of steel around the fortress.\n\n\n\nPolicy Director at United Against Nuclear Iran Jason Brodsky told The Sun: \u201cThere are some fears it could be the site of any covert attempt by the Iranian regime to break out towards a nuclear weapon.\u201d\n\n\n\nTrump has repeatedly threatened to blitz the base in recent weeks.\n\n\n\nHe warned earlier this month: \u201cWe may hit Pickaxe Mountain very soon\u2026 if there is anything going on with Pickaxe.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe US leader also said on Thursday he was at a crossroads over whether to restart attacks on Iran \u2013 hinting that he could hit the base.\n\n\n\n\u201cI have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not?\u201d he told Axios. \n\n\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.\u201d\n\n\n\nIran has consistently denied allegations that it is storing near-weapons grade uranium in Pickaxe Mountain.\n\n\n\nThe regime\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on July 22: \u201cNo nuclear activity is taking place at Pickaxe Mountain.\u201d\n\n\n\nBut experts say the mountain is big enough to host uranium-enrichment machines.\n\n\n\nFaragasso added: \u201cWe have assessed that the facility is likely large enough to hold not only a centrifuge assembly facility, but an enrichment plant and possibly in the future components related to nuclear weapons.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe analyst also said the fortress\u2019s entrances may be a weak point the US could look to exploit.\n\n\n\n\u201cThe tunnel entrances could be collapsed by hitting them with the bunker- busting weapons,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nBut hitting the entrances would only be a temporary solution, the expert warned.\n\n\n\n\u201cIt would halt Iran\u2018s ability to gain access into the facility, effectively sealing it, whereas the ultimate goal is to either destroy the facility or have Iran dismantle the facility themselves,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nTrump may start to mull unleashing his weapons on the base in just weeks, Brodsky said.\n\n\n\nThe expert said the US president will probably wait until after the midterm elections to decide on the attacks.\n\n\n\nAnother factor which may push his finger closer to the trigger will be if US intelligence confirms Tel Aviv\u2019s claim that nuclear centrifuges are being stored at Pickaxe Mountain.\n\n\n\nHe said: \u201cIf the US confirms intelligence [reports of centrifuges being moved into the base], that would definitely move them closer to the trigger for military action against that facility.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe expert added: \u201cI think what destroying Pickaxe Mountain would do would be to further degrade the Iranian nuclear programme and its remaining infrastructure, and that would prevent it from rebuilding.\u201d\n\n\n\nConstruction of Pickaxe Mountain kicked off in fall 2020.\n\n\n\nAt the time, Iran claimed its underground halls were to be used as a replacement for a destroyed centrifuge assembly site at Natanz.\n\n\n\nBut if Trump decides to unleash his MOPs with a double-tap tactic \u2013 it could spell the end of the elusive facility.\n\n\t\n\nComment now"
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                    "DONALD Trump could unleash an incredible double-tap technique to blow Iran\u2019s \u201cinvincible\u201d 300ft deep nuclear base to smithereens.\n\n\n\nPickaxe Mountain, where Tehran is said to be hiding stockpiles of near weapons-grade uranium, may face Washington\u2019s wrath in the coming weeks.\n\n\nSatellite pictures have revealed a soaring uptick in construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain Credit: Reuters\n\n\n\n\nShrouded in secrecy, the heavily fortified bunker is feared to be where Tehran is constructing an indestructible atomic plant under 300ft of solid granite.\n\n\n\nTo wipe out the compound and potentially pull the plug on the regime\u2019s nuclear ambitions, Washington\u2019s best bet for the job is its GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for The US Sun newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you!\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\nBut this menacing bunker-buster bomb \u2013 which was used for the first time in history only last year \u2013 has a maximum strike depth of 200ft, meaning it will be short by 100ft.\n\n\n\nIt is feared the bomb alone may not be enough to decimate the Iranian nuclear site \u2013 which experts say has an Achilles\u2019 heel.\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\nThe US used MOPs during the 12-day war in 2025 Credit: Unpixs\n\nTrump has threatened to blitz the base several times Credit: Shutterstock Editorial\n\n\nSpencer Faragasso, an expert at the Institute for Science and International Security, said there are two critical weakpoints the US could exploit to annihilate the base.\n\n\n\nHe pointed out a pair of ventilation holes which Washington could look to zero in on if it wants the best chance of obliterating the reinforced facility.\n\n\n\nFaragasso told The Sun: \u201cWe\u2019ve identified two possible ventilation shafts that could be targeted by deep-earth penetrating weapons such as the GBU-57 MOP.\u201d\n\n\n\nHe said these points, if struck precisely in quick succession, would \u201cenable the weapons to get deeper into the mountain to potentially destroy the facility itself\u201d.\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMost read in The US Sun\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\nNew satellite pics have shown the increase in construction Credit: SkyFi/CSIS\n\nB-2 Spirit drops a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb (stock) Credit: USAF\n\n\nThe expert continued: \u201cOne or multiple weapons would follow the other, so you can drop two or three down the same hole, to basically dig deeper into the facility to try to destroy it.\u201d\n\n\n\nPickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified site with two pairs of entrances which lead to two deeply buried tunnel complexes.\n\n\n\nKnown in Farsi as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, the suspected nuclear lab is situated just 2km south of the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.\n\n\n\nIt remained untouched by US-Israeli strikes during the 12-day war in June 2025.\n\n\n\nIsrael believes\u00a0Tehran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges\u00a0deep inside\u00a0Pickaxe Mountain shortly after the targeted bombing campaign of nuclear sites that summer.\n\n\n\nCentrifuges are advanced machines used to create enriched uranium \u2013 which can be used to make both reactor fuel for civilian use but also for nuclear bombs.\n\n\n\nEnriched uranium suitable for atomic weapons needs to be above a 90 per cent purity threshold.\n\n\n\nLast week, experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said satellites had revealed more activity at Pickaxe Mountain in 2026 \u201cthan at any point in the site\u2019s history\u201d.\n\n\n\nTheir analysis showed how construction speed shot up over the last year and that Tehran had thrown up a new ring of steel around the fortress.\n\n\n\nPolicy Director at United Against Nuclear Iran Jason Brodsky told The Sun: \u201cThere are some fears it could be the site of any covert attempt by the Iranian regime to break out towards a nuclear weapon.\u201d\n\n\n\nTrump has repeatedly threatened to blitz the base in recent weeks.\n\n\n\nHe warned earlier this month: \u201cWe may hit Pickaxe Mountain very soon\u2026 if there is anything going on with Pickaxe.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe US leader also said on Thursday he was at a crossroads over whether to restart attacks on Iran \u2013 hinting that he could hit the base.\n\n\n\n\u201cI have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not?\u201d he told Axios. \n\n\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.\u201d\n\n\n\nIran has consistently denied allegations that it is storing near-weapons grade uranium in Pickaxe Mountain.\n\n\n\nThe regime\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on July 22: \u201cNo nuclear activity is taking place at Pickaxe Mountain.\u201d\n\n\n\nBut experts say the mountain is big enough to host uranium-enrichment machines.\n\n\n\nFaragasso added: \u201cWe have assessed that the facility is likely large enough to hold not only a centrifuge assembly facility, but an enrichment plant and possibly in the future components related to nuclear weapons.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe analyst also said the fortress\u2019s entrances may be a weak point the US could look to exploit.\n\n\n\n\u201cThe tunnel entrances could be collapsed by hitting them with the bunker- busting weapons,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nBut hitting the entrances would only be a temporary solution, the expert warned.\n\n\n\n\u201cIt would halt Iran\u2018s ability to gain access into the facility, effectively sealing it, whereas the ultimate goal is to either destroy the facility or have Iran dismantle the facility themselves,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nTrump may start to mull unleashing his weapons on the base in just weeks, Brodsky said.\n\n\n\nThe expert said the US president will probably wait until after the midterm elections to decide on the attacks.\n\n\n\nAnother factor which may push his finger closer to the trigger will be if US intelligence confirms Tel Aviv\u2019s claim that nuclear centrifuges are being stored at Pickaxe Mountain.\n\n\n\nHe said: \u201cIf the US confirms intelligence [reports of centrifuges being moved into the base], that would definitely move them closer to the trigger for military action against that facility.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe expert added: \u201cI think what destroying Pickaxe Mountain would do would be to further degrade the Iranian nuclear programme and its remaining infrastructure, and that would prevent it from rebuilding.\u201d\n\n\n\nConstruction of Pickaxe Mountain kicked off in fall 2020.\n\n\n\nAt the time, Iran claimed its underground halls were to be used as a replacement for a destroyed centrifuge assembly site at Natanz.\n\n\n\nBut if Trump decides to unleash his MOPs with a double-tap tactic \u2013 it could spell the end of the elusive facility.\n\n\t\n\nComment now"
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                    "DONALD Trump could unleash an incredible double-tap technique to blow Iran\u2019s \u201cinvincible\u201d 300ft deep nuclear base to smithereens.\n\n\n\nPickaxe Mountain, where Tehran is said to be hiding stockpiles of near weapons-grade uranium, may face Washington\u2019s wrath in the coming weeks.\n\n\nSatellite pictures have revealed a soaring uptick in construction activity at Pickaxe Mountain Credit: Reuters\n\n\n\n\nShrouded in secrecy, the heavily fortified bunker is feared to be where Tehran is constructing an indestructible atomic plant under 300ft of solid granite.\n\n\n\nTo wipe out the compound and potentially pull the plug on the regime\u2019s nuclear ambitions, Washington\u2019s best bet for the job is its GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for The US Sun newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you!\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\nBut this menacing bunker-buster bomb \u2013 which was used for the first time in history only last year \u2013 has a maximum strike depth of 200ft, meaning it will be short by 100ft.\n\n\n\nIt is feared the bomb alone may not be enough to decimate the Iranian nuclear site \u2013 which experts say has an Achilles\u2019 heel.\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\nThe US used MOPs during the 12-day war in 2025 Credit: Unpixs\n\nTrump has threatened to blitz the base several times Credit: Shutterstock Editorial\n\n\nSpencer Faragasso, an expert at the Institute for Science and International Security, said there are two critical weakpoints the US could exploit to annihilate the base.\n\n\n\nHe pointed out a pair of ventilation holes which Washington could look to zero in on if it wants the best chance of obliterating the reinforced facility.\n\n\n\nFaragasso told The Sun: \u201cWe\u2019ve identified two possible ventilation shafts that could be targeted by deep-earth penetrating weapons such as the GBU-57 MOP.\u201d\n\n\n\nHe said these points, if struck precisely in quick succession, would \u201cenable the weapons to get deeper into the mountain to potentially destroy the facility itself\u201d.\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMost read in The US Sun\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\nNew satellite pics have shown the increase in construction Credit: SkyFi/CSIS\n\nB-2 Spirit drops a GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb (stock) Credit: USAF\n\n\nThe expert continued: \u201cOne or multiple weapons would follow the other, so you can drop two or three down the same hole, to basically dig deeper into the facility to try to destroy it.\u201d\n\n\n\nPickaxe Mountain is a heavily fortified site with two pairs of entrances which lead to two deeply buried tunnel complexes.\n\n\n\nKnown in Farsi as Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, the suspected nuclear lab is situated just 2km south of the Natanz uranium enrichment plant.\n\n\n\nIt remained untouched by US-Israeli strikes during the 12-day war in June 2025.\n\n\n\nIsrael believes\u00a0Tehran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges\u00a0deep inside\u00a0Pickaxe Mountain shortly after the targeted bombing campaign of nuclear sites that summer.\n\n\n\nCentrifuges are advanced machines used to create enriched uranium \u2013 which can be used to make both reactor fuel for civilian use but also for nuclear bombs.\n\n\n\nEnriched uranium suitable for atomic weapons needs to be above a 90 per cent purity threshold.\n\n\n\nLast week, experts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said satellites had revealed more activity at Pickaxe Mountain in 2026 \u201cthan at any point in the site\u2019s history\u201d.\n\n\n\nTheir analysis showed how construction speed shot up over the last year and that Tehran had thrown up a new ring of steel around the fortress.\n\n\n\nPolicy Director at United Against Nuclear Iran Jason Brodsky told The Sun: \u201cThere are some fears it could be the site of any covert attempt by the Iranian regime to break out towards a nuclear weapon.\u201d\n\n\n\nTrump has repeatedly threatened to blitz the base in recent weeks.\n\n\n\nHe warned earlier this month: \u201cWe may hit Pickaxe Mountain very soon\u2026 if there is anything going on with Pickaxe.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe US leader also said on Thursday he was at a crossroads over whether to restart attacks on Iran \u2013 hinting that he could hit the base.\n\n\n\n\u201cI have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not?\u201d he told Axios. \n\n\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a big decision. Anything could happen with me.\u201d\n\n\n\nIran has consistently denied allegations that it is storing near-weapons grade uranium in Pickaxe Mountain.\n\n\n\nThe regime\u2019s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on July 22: \u201cNo nuclear activity is taking place at Pickaxe Mountain.\u201d\n\n\n\nBut experts say the mountain is big enough to host uranium-enrichment machines.\n\n\n\nFaragasso added: \u201cWe have assessed that the facility is likely large enough to hold not only a centrifuge assembly facility, but an enrichment plant and possibly in the future components related to nuclear weapons.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe analyst also said the fortress\u2019s entrances may be a weak point the US could look to exploit.\n\n\n\n\u201cThe tunnel entrances could be collapsed by hitting them with the bunker- busting weapons,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nBut hitting the entrances would only be a temporary solution, the expert warned.\n\n\n\n\u201cIt would halt Iran\u2018s ability to gain access into the facility, effectively sealing it, whereas the ultimate goal is to either destroy the facility or have Iran dismantle the facility themselves,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\nTrump may start to mull unleashing his weapons on the base in just weeks, Brodsky said.\n\n\n\nThe expert said the US president will probably wait until after the midterm elections to decide on the attacks.\n\n\n\nAnother factor which may push his finger closer to the trigger will be if US intelligence confirms Tel Aviv\u2019s claim that nuclear centrifuges are being stored at Pickaxe Mountain.\n\n\n\nHe said: \u201cIf the US confirms intelligence [reports of centrifuges being moved into the base], that would definitely move them closer to the trigger for military action against that facility.\u201d\n\n\n\nThe expert added: \u201cI think what destroying Pickaxe Mountain would do would be to further degrade the Iranian nuclear programme and its remaining infrastructure, and that would prevent it from rebuilding.\u201d\n\n\n\nConstruction of Pickaxe Mountain kicked off in fall 2020.\n\n\n\nAt the time, Iran claimed its underground halls were to be used as a replacement for a destroyed centrifuge assembly site at Natanz.\n\n\n\nBut if Trump decides to unleash his MOPs with a double-tap tactic \u2013 it could spell the end of the elusive facility.\n\n\t\n\n5 comments5"
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