Israel Reportedly Believes Iran Moved Nuclear Centrifuges To Another Location. Trump Has Threatened To Target It

Israeli intelligence believes Iran has moved thousands of nuclear centrifuges in an area known as Pickaxe Mountain, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal detailed that officials told U.S. counterpart their assessment shows the move took place in the past fall after the 12-day, which ended with the U.S. bombing Iran’s main nuclear sites.

Pickaxe mountain, part of the complex in Natanz, was not targeted last year and has not been hit in this year’s war either, according to The Times Of Israel. The outlet added that there has been activity at the site for more than a year. It hosts two tunnel complexes experts believe can’t be reached by the U.S.’s most powerful bunker buster bombs.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi recalled earlier this year that Iran said in 2021 that it intended to “have nuclear activity” in the mountain.

President Donald Trump said last week that the U.S. will “take out” Pickaxe Mountain and that Iranians should be “ready” for such a scenario.

“We see no ⁠activity there. They’re not doing well with their nuclear ​situation. Every time we hear about it, we blow ​it up. So they don’t like talking about it. But we’ll probably give Pickaxe a shot relatively soon,” Trump claimed.

Mediators are pursuing a 10-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, but Trump is also considering escalating to an all-out war, according to another report.

Axios detailed that Trump has not made a decision yet, but officials believe the next days will be crucial in his decision.

Washington is preparing for both scenarios. It has told Israel to refrain from taking any action that could derail any chance for de-escalation, but has been making plans for the opposite scenario at the same time.

Mediators Qatar, Egypt and Pakistan, among others, presented parties with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire that would stop the fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and give time to save the Memorandum of Understanding. No side has signaled openness to accept the proposal.

In the meantime, the U.S. Central Command saying it conducted a 10th night of strikes to “degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.”