Senator John Kennedy asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a Senate hearing whether the US has the capability to strike Iran's underground Mount Machush nuclear facility. Hegseth declined to detail classified options but stressed the US has unmatched military capabilities, citing the 2026 escalation including operations against Iran's nuclear sites and in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth whether the United States has the capability to strike Iran's underground nuclear facility at Mount Machush. Hegseth responded that he cannot discuss classified capabilities but stressed that the U.S. military possesses unmatched capabilities worldwide, referencing the 2026 escalation that included Trump administration operations against Iran's nuclear sites and missions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mount Machush is a hardened underground facility carved into granite in the Zagros Mountains, designed as a fortified backup site for Iran's nuclear program. It is highly resistant to conventional strikes. The Zioneer has previously reported that the site is one of the most difficult aerial targets and has never been inspected by international monitors.
The exchange underscores the continuing centrality of the facility in U.S.-Iran tensions, as Washington has signaled that it may take action to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear breakout capability.
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