Greg Barton, the University Global Islamic Politics Chair, said U.S. conventional weapons cannot penetrate deep enough to damage the Pickaxe Mountain facilities [1].
The assessment comes amid heightened tensions regarding Iran's underground nuclear-related sites. If the U.S. cannot effectively neutralize these facilities with conventional means, it limits the military options available to policymakers and may alter the strategic calculus of potential strikes.
Barton detailed the limitations of current munitions during a video interview with Sky News Australia. He said that the depth of the Pickaxe Mountain site provides a level of protection that standard weaponry cannot overcome [1].
"If America attempts a strike on Pickaxe Mountain, conventional weapons don’t go deep enough to cause damage," Barton said [1].
This warning follows recent rhetoric from the U.S. administration. Donald Trump said, "We could hit Pickaxe Mountain pretty soon" [2].
Pickaxe Mountain is a secret underground site in Iran designed to house nuclear-related activities [3, 4]. Because the facility is carved deep into the mountain, it is specifically engineered to withstand aerial bombardments that would destroy surface-level infrastructure.
Barton's analysis suggests that the physical geography of the site acts as a primary defense mechanism. He said that the penetration depth required to reach the operational heart of the facility exceeds the capabilities of the conventional arsenal currently deployed [1].
“"If America attempts a strike on Pickaxe Mountain, conventional weapons don’t go deep enough to cause damage."”
The discrepancy between political rhetoric and technical capability suggests a potential gap in U.S. military readiness for a specific type of engagement. If conventional bunker-busters are ineffective against Pickaxe Mountain, the U.S. would be forced to choose between inaction or the use of non-conventional weapons, which would significantly escalate the conflict.
