The latest
New satellite imagery reviewed by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) and reported by Fox News indicates that construction is continuing at Iran’s heavily fortified underground site known as “Pickaxe Mountain.” Meanwhile, no comparable activity has been detected at the country’s main nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, or Fordow, raising fresh questions about Tehran’s adherence to restrictions tied to its nuclear program.
Details
• Secret facility: ISIS said satellite images from late June 2026 show vehicle traffic and reinforced tunnel entrances, indicating ongoing work inside the underground complex.
• Expert assessment: Researcher Spencer Faragasso said the site appears large enough to accommodate a uranium enrichment facility, describing the continued construction as “deeply concerning.”
• Other sites: According to the institute, satellite imagery showed little activity at Natanz and Isfahan, while Fordow’s tunnel entrances remain covered with earth and protected by defensive barriers.
• Iran’s position: Iran continues to insist that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes, denies seeking nuclear weapons, and says it is meeting its declared obligations with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Background
“Pickaxe Mountain” first emerged in intelligence assessments and satellite imagery several years ago as a vast underground complex in Iran’s Zagros Mountains. Analysts believe it is deeper and more heavily fortified than the Fordow enrichment plant. Iran has not allowed IAEA inspectors to visit the site, making it a recurring point of concern in international debates over the transparency of Tehran’s nuclear program.
What to watch
Attention will now focus on whether the IAEA renews its calls to inspect the site and whether Washington and Tehran clash over differing interpretations of their nuclear commitments during any future negotiations.
