Iran's leadership views the pursuit of nuclear weapons as "a necessity more important than bread," an activist hard-liner recently declared, signaling an open acknowledgment of the nation's nuclear ambitions. This development, alongside intelligence on Iranian nuclear rebuild efforts, has led Washington and Jerusalem to seriously consider renewed strikes against the Islamic Republic, primarily to disrupt its nuclear program.
Reports indicate that options under discussion include the deployment of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, also known as the "mother of all bombs," to target Iran's deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain complex. President Donald Trump has previously stated that any Iranian push for nuclear weapons would be intolerable and that strikes on the site may become necessary.
Previous strikes by the U.S. and Israel in 2025 and 2026 reportedly set Iran's nuclear program back by more than two years. However, the nation is now attempting to regain lost ground by rebuilding its nuclear capabilities underground. Satellite imagery from September and October has revealed rapid rebuilding activity at Minzadehei, a facility previously struck by Israeli forces and known for manufacturing key nuclear components.
A parallel reconstruction effort is underway at Taleghan 2, an above-ground bunker associated with high-explosive work and warhead experiments. Despite prior Israeli strikes in October 2024 and March 2026, Iran has resumed repair work. Activity at the site includes capping penetration holes, adding concrete blast protection, reinforcing the structure, and concealing ongoing construction under tarps.
Further rebuilding is also occurring at Shahid Boroujerdi, a tunnel complex linked to past work on uranium metal for nuclear weapon cores. This site has shown new construction activity and the presence of shipping containers. Additionally, Iran has been repairing buildings at Malek Ashtar University, which Israel targeted earlier this year to halt nuclear weaponization work.
At Pickaxe Mountain, a 300-foot-deep tunnel complex, Iran appears to have shifted focus from additional construction to hardening the site against future bombings, though work could resume at any time. The U.S. and Israel have identified Pickaxe as a potential future enrichment and weaponization site, possibly housing uranium-enrichment centrifuges that survived previous strikes. While the complex may be beyond the reach of current bunker-buster munitions, a MOAB or Tomahawk missiles could be used to block access and improve monitoring.
To prevent further recovery efforts, strikes on these sites are being considered. Previous U.S. and Israeli actions have denied Iran a readily available nuclear weapon fuel source, effectively halting the most challenging aspect of building an arsenal. Approximately 9,000 kilograms of enriched uranium, theoretically enough for about 22 weapons, remains inaccessible.
Beyond disrupting reconstruction, a comprehensive policy may involve a sustained U.S. naval blockade and economic pressure to curtail Tehran's military funding. Covert operations targeting scientific networks and procurement chains are also being considered. The U.S. military is reportedly evaluating the use of the "mother of all bombs" in potential future strikes.
Furthermore, Washington must develop next-generation bunker-busters capable of reaching deep underground sites like Pickaxe Mountain and collaborate with Israel on methods for collapsing tunnel complexes. The Pentagon is also preparing to defend Saudi oil facilities from potential Iranian counter-strikes, which Tehran has threatened in response to any U.S. or Israeli action against Pickaxe.
Ultimately, the assessment is that the Islamic Republic will continue to pursue nuclear weapons until its regime ends. In this context, the U.S. and Israel are reportedly prepared to support the Iranian people in an effort to overthrow their government.