Beneath the Earth, Above the Abyss - Trump’s Iran Strike and the Mystery of Pickaxe Mountain

In the language of power, there is no hesitation. Donald Trump acted, and the world held its breath. In a night that is set to go down in history as "Operation Midnight Hammer," the US President ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. What the White House triumphantly called the "complete destruction" of the nuclear infrastructure turns out, on closer inspection, to be a half-truth - or, depending on one's perspective, a risky balancing act between military demonstration and strategic incompleteness.

According to a new intelligence assessment recently presented to Congress, only one of the three targeted facilities - Fordo - was actually severely damaged. Maxar satellite images show massive destruction to the infrastructure there. The other two targets - Natanz and Isfahan - show superficial damage but could be operational again within months. This is also due to their construction: both have deeply buried tunnel systems, the exact depth of which may lie beyond the reach of even the GBU-57 bunker buster. These bomb-like giants can penetrate up to 60 meters underground - which may not be enough for the hidden chambers of Natanz.

Iran remains silent. But Israel speaks. A senior IDF officer summed up the situation like this: "We’ve gained time, not peace." Time has been gained, but not peace. In Jerusalem, preparations are reportedly underway for further airstrikes - should Tehran show signs of restarting the damaged facilities. Israeli intelligence believes that highly enriched uranium remains buried beneath Isfahan - hidden, but not destroyed. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also confirmed in a confidential briefing that the only metal conversion facility in Natanz has been destroyed and will take years to rebuild. But what does this mean for the strategic situation? The answer goes far beyond the bomb craters. Trump had been presented with a far more extensive attack plan - six targets over several weeks, including Iranian missile positions. He declined. Too risky, too bloody, too close to open war. But this reversal is now seen by many in the Pentagon as a missed opportunity. The President "hesitated where resolve was needed," say internal memos. Meanwhile, the global economy is sounding the alarm. Oil prices jumped seven percent after the attack - a clear signal that investors are bracing for escalation. And domestically, the mission could have legal repercussions: the War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires that Congress be informed within 48 hours and approve within 60 days - but whether Trump fully complied with this requirement remains unclear.

Even deeper - both literally and figuratively - lies the suspicion that there is a hidden fourth facility in Iran. Its name: Pickaxe Mountain. Intelligence reports and expert analyses suggest that up to 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium could be stored there - hundreds of meters below the surface. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is demanding access, but Tehran is blocking it. The complex is not officially declared, its existence supported only by satellite images and intercepted radio transmissions. The location: a mountainous outcrop south of Fordo, also known as the "Kavir Plan." "Too deeply buried for us to evaluate," say analysts from the Institute for Science and International Security. IAEA Director Rafael Grossi warns: "No elevated radioactivity - but severe restrictions on safety and access." Even scientists like David Albright see it as a blind spot for the global community. We repeatedly receive various reports from the region, but conclusive proof is still lacking. Even the analysis of other image sources has not been able to substantiate the suspicion further. A definitive answer will likely only come from direct investigation inside Iran. It would be the perfect hiding place. And perhaps the reason why Trump was once again asked whether he was ready to bomb Iran again. His answer: "Sure. Without question. Absolutely." The message is clear. The world teeters between tactical precision and strategic uncertainty. And deep within the earth, in chambers of concrete and silence, may lie the very material that will decide between war and peace.