A Zioneer analysis published Monday evening says President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran's deep underground nuclear facility at Mount Pikaks. The assessment notes the site is immune to conventional bunker busters and identifies only a B61 tactical nuclear bomb or a ground operation as viable destruction options, though it assesses the US is unlikely to use nuclear means.
A Zioneer analysis published at 23:58 Jerusalem on Monday states that President Donald Trump has threatened to strike Iran's deep underground nuclear facility at Mount Pikaks, and that only a tactical nuclear bomb or a ground operation could destroy the site. The assessment builds on an earlier Zioneer analysis from 23:34 that detailed the facility's immunity to conventional bunker busters including the GBU-57, which the analysis says destroyed Iran's Fordow facility.
The current analysis notes that Iran has not yet installed centrifuges at Pikaks but warns the site is designed to provide a strike-proof enrichment capability. It evaluates two destruction options: a new-generation B61 guided tactical nuclear bomb that would create an artificial earthquake to collapse the facility, or a ground operation. The analysis assesses that the US is unlikely to use a nuclear option given concerns that Russia is seeking a pretext to break the taboo on nuclear weapons use in Ukraine.
Trump's threat adds Mount Pikaks to a list of Iranian nuclear targets he has said the US is prepared to strike. The Zioneer reported earlier Monday that Trump threatened the Karkas nuclear facility near Natanz, and separately said the US will 'eliminate' the Har Pikaks site. The background context includes The Zioneer's earlier reporting on new construction at Mount Pikakas as well as warnings of potential US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
2 developments
- DevelopingUS reportedly prepared strike options targeting Iran's Mount Pikaks nuclear facility
- DevelopingTrump escalates Mount Makosh threat: 'We will reach the site, tell Iran to prepare'
- DevelopingWSJ: Trump weighs three escalation options in Iran, including Kharg Island seizure, Mount Pikaks bombing
- StrongTrump says 'good talks' with Iran, downplays Mount Makosh, warns of 'complete mission' if no deal
Source and signal
- Open-source intake