Iran builds new secret nuclear facility, fools US and Israel, its not Natanz, Fordow, the name is…, located in…

New Delhi: Kuh means mountain or hill in Persian and Kolang means pickaxe or shovel. The Persian term Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La translates to “a mountain that looks like a pickaxe.” While in English, it is referred to as Pickaxe Mountain. Not many people were aware of the term Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, but it has come into the spotlight following the American attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Now several reports claim that the Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La is the part of the mountain in Iran where enriched uranium was secretly stored before the American strikes.

Amid discussions about Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz, a new name has emerged — Kuh-e-Kolang Gaz-La or Pikax Mountain. Here in this article, we will tell you about the Pikax Mountain, where exactly is it located? What is its strategic significance for Iran? And what is the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) assessment of this nuclear site?

According to a report by The Telegraph, when the Director General of the IAEA asked Iran what was happening beneath Pikax Mountain, Iran’s response was blunt, sharp, and terse: “It’s none of your business.”

Why is Kuh-e-Kolang Gaz La or Pickaxe Mountain in the news?

The United States recently launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites at Fordow and Natanz using B-2 stealth jets. According to the reports, the US dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs in the operation. President Donald Trump, while addressing the media from the White House, claimed that the strike had “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear program.

However, the claims made by Donald Trump were questioned not only by US agencies but also by Iran. Iran asserted that its enriched uranium stockpiles remained safe. In fact, just before the American strike, a convoy of 16 trucks was spotted outside the Fordow nuclear plant.

While talking to The Telegraph, a nuclear program expert from Iran said that the Iranian government had already transferred its highly enriched uranium to a secret location before the US bombardment. Reports suggest that the secret site could be Kuh-e-Kolang Gaz La or Pickaxe Mountain—meaning Iran’s enriched uranium might be stored inside Pickaxe Mountain.

It is worth noting that Tehran is believed to have hidden hundreds of such locations where advanced centrifuges are kept concealed. These centrifuges are capable of producing weapons-grade uranium needed for nuclear bombs. This information was provided by Seema Shine, a former Israeli military official who served for 30 years.

All You Need To Know About Pickaxe Mountain?

  • The new nuclear project—Pickaxe Mountain (also known as Kuh-e-Kolang Gaz La) in Iran is located about 225 kilometers south of Tehran.
  • It lies approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) south of Fordow
  • The location is just a few minutes away from Natanz, Iran’s key nuclear facility.
  • In April this year, satellite images captured by Planet Labs revealed that Iran had been gradually excavating the area around Kuh-e-Kolang Gaz La / Pickaxe Mountain.
  • The images confirmed its location just beyond the southern perimeter of Natanz.
  • This facility, which is being developed under tight security and anti-aircraft protection, is guarded by Iran’s elite IRGC commanders.
  • It spans an area of about 2.7 square kilometers amid the arid central plateau of Iran.

The discovery of construction at this site has raised global concerns, especially because of Iran’s history of secrecy regarding its uranium enrichment programs—used ostensibly for energy, but with the potential to be weaponized.

Four Entry Points, 100 Meters Underground

According to an Associated Press (AP) report, satellite images analyzed by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies reveal that four tunnels have been dug into the slope of the mountain. Two of these tunnels face east, and two face west. Each tunnel measures approximately 6 meters (20 feet) in width and 8 meters (26 feet) in height.

The scale of the excavation can be understood by observing the large piles of displaced earth around the site. It is believed that Iran is possibly constructing a nuclear research facility at a depth of between 80 meters (260 feet) and 100 meters (328 feet) underground.

This nuclear site being built under Kuh-e-Kolang Gaz La lies beneath a 1,608-meter-high mountain, making it significantly higher and deeper than Fordow, which sits at 960 meters above sea level. The facility is reportedly being built so deep that even the U.S.’s powerful GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs may struggle to destroy it.

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