A new dimension has been added to the US-Iran confrontation following statements by US President Donald Trump, who left open the possibility of a military strike against Mount Kolang, claiming it is a potential target for a major American operation. The mountain is located in the Zagros mountain range and has been the focus of international analysis in recent years, as it is estimated that one of the most classified underground complexes of the Iranian nuclear program is being developed deep beneath the mountain mass.
Mount Kolang – The strategic point next to Natanz
The Zagros mountain range is one of the largest natural zones in Iran, stretching from the northwest to the southeast of the country. In the Isfahan province, near the city of Natanz, lies Mount Kolang, which belongs to the central part of the Zagros range. The region is characterized by steep rocky peaks and rugged terrain, features considered ideal for constructing deeply buried underground military facilities.
CSIS: Work is not only continuing but accelerating
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), citing satellite imagery analysis, claims that while no resumption of activity is observed at the nuclear facilities hit by recent bombardments, work at the Kolang underground complex has accelerated significantly. The facility is located approximately one mile south of the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and is considered one of the most heavily protected infrastructures of the Iranian nuclear program.
Grossi's warnings and the US estimate of 400 kg of uranium
A few days before the US-Israeli attacks, the Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, stated that Iran is constructing a third uranium enrichment facility near Isfahan. At the same time, the existence of an underground tunnel north of the city had been reported, which is estimated to connect to the new facility. On June 24, US Vice President J.D. Vance claimed that Tehran likely still possesses around 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) with a purity of 60%. According to Western estimates, any future attempt to build a nuclear weapon would require a new enrichment facility capable of producing 90% enriched uranium, an expansion of centrifuge production, and metallurgy facilities for the production of uranium hexafluoride (UF₆).
Attacks on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan "froze" the nuclear program
The American and Israeli attacks targeted three core pillars of Iran's nuclear program. On June 22, the facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were hit. Prior to the attacks, uranium enrichment was carried out at the Fordow and Natanz facilities, while uranium metal processing took place in Isfahan. According to CSIS, satellite images show no substantial restoration work at these three facilities. At Natanz, transformers and electrical generators have been destroyed and remain unreplaced to this day. In Isfahan, large amounts of debris still cover the roads, blocking access to many of the destroyed buildings. The assessment of CSIS is that the attacks effectively halted both the enrichment and processing of uranium at these specific facilities.
The underground "fortress" of Kolang is expanding
In contrast to the other facilities, work at Kolang is not only continuing but accelerating. The history of the project dates back to 2020, when a fire destroyed the centrifuge assembly facility at Natanz, an incident attributed at the time to suspected sabotage. Immediately afterward, Ali Akbar Salehi announced that Iran would build a larger and more modern facility "in the heart of the mountain near Natanz". Construction of the underground complex at Mount Kolang began that same year.
Satellite imagery reveals new works
A comparison of satellite images from June 30 and September 30 shows that: a new security perimeter was constructed around Natanz, tunnels have been opened on the western, eastern, and southern sides, and extensive excavation works are underway. On the eastern side, there are two underground entrances. The northern entrance was recently widened and covered with sand. On the western side, there are also two open entrances, with the westernmost one having also been expanded and covered with sand. The southern side features a single entrance, in front of which an earth embankment has been constructed, a fact that, according to analysts, suggests it is not actively used.
The three scenarios being examined by analysts
CSIS points out that the exact mission of the underground complex cannot be verified solely through satellite imagery. However, it presents three possible scenarios: First, Iran is continuing its original plan to create an underground centrifuge assembly unit, significantly accelerating the timeline. Second, the facility is taking on a broader role, hosting metallurgy activities that previously took place in Isfahan. Third, a new, covert uranium enrichment facility is being created, capable of utilizing the roughly 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium that, according to US estimates, Tehran still possesses.
Trump: "Kolang could face a major and powerful strike"
Donald Trump, bringing the Iranian nuclear program back to the forefront, stated that nuclear facilities located in mountainous areas of Iran could become targets of American attacks. "Mount Kolang could be a potential target for a major and powerful strike," he characteristically noted. These remarks follow reports in Western media, including the Telegraph, according to which a new underground complex has been established in the area of Mount Kolang Gazla, adjacent to the Natanz nuclear facilities in Isfahan province. The US President went even further, declaring that the United States "will destroy Iran's nuclear facilities," adding that a potential military operation could last two to three weeks.
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