Inside the IDF Military Intelligence's crusade to block Iran from getting nukes – exclusive

Since August 2024, IDF Military Intelligence chief Shlomi Binder has led efforts to dismantle Iran's nuclear program. This period saw extensive strikes on Iranian facilities, including Natanz and Isfahan, and intelligence sharing that aided US operations. These actions, which included the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have halted uranium enrichment and destroyed most nuclear facilities, a first in decades. However, concerns remain about surviving centrifuges deep underground and the potential for clandestine extraction of enriched uranium. Another key focus for Binder is preventing Iran from rebuilding facilities for converting enriched uranium into weapon components.

“We're going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready,”

US President Donald Trump stated in July, referring to a deep underground facility. While Pickaxe Mountain is a strategic concern for Israeli intelligence, it is not yet operational. The overall assessment is that Iran's nuclear program has been significantly set back, but Iranian ingenuity means the threat persists, requiring Israel to remain vigilant for future action.