Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu plans to present President Donald Trump with intelligence during a Monday meeting showing that Iran is expanding operations at its deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility while using ongoing negotiations with the United States to mask continued nuclear advances, according to a source in Jerusalem.
Iran's nuclear program and the recent conflict with the Islamic Republic are expected to be central topics in the meeting. The Israeli delegation intends to share intelligence demonstrating that Tehran has continued advancing its nuclear program while publicly presenting itself as committed to diplomatic negotiations, with Israeli officials arguing that Iran is not negotiating in good faith.
Israel has obtained evidence showing that nuclear centrifuges have recently been transported to the highly secretive Pickaxe Mountain complex - the first known transfer of such equipment to the site since construction began in 2020, according to reporting in The Wall Street Journal. The underground installation is located more than 300 feet beneath Kolang Mountain near Iran's Natanz nuclear facility and has long been suspected of serving as a key component of the regime's nuclear infrastructure.
Until recently, there had been no publicly known evidence of active nuclear operations at the facility. President Trump previously cited the lack of such evidence as one reason the site had not been targeted during earlier military operations against Iran. Last week, Trump sought to dismiss reports of activity there, telling reporters that the United States had no information confirming such developments. More recently, however, the president has indicated willingness to authorize military action against the complex, with reports suggesting American forces have prepared contingency plans for a possible ground operation aimed at securing enriched uranium believed to be stored inside.
Israel also plans to present intelligence indicating that Iran has begun rebuilding portions of its missile and drone programs, which suffered damage during repeated American airstrikes. Israeli officials believe this intelligence show that Iran has no intention of abandoning its nuclear or missile ambitions despite participating in ceasefire negotiations with the United States.
Netanyahu is expected to remain in Washington through Tuesday to attend memorial events honoring late Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina alongside President Trump and other world leaders.