A suspected Iranian nuclear site, Pickaxe Mountain, has reportedly witnessed a surge in construction activity this year, according to analysts.
The site, situated near the Natanz nuclear complex and about 140 miles south of Tehran, has been under the watchful eyes of intelligence agencies as a likely location for Iran to secure its future nuclear program.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank carried out an analysis of six years’ worth of satellite imagery. The analysis, reported by CNN on Wednesday, showed a “clear surge in construction activity” at the site this year. The underground facility is “likely” intended to serve as a safe haven for Iran’s nuclear program, according to the analysts at CSIS.
The report also underscored the challenges presented by the granite mountain in which the facility is embedded. The CSIS team reported that even the Pentagon’s “heaviest non-nuclear” bombs would find it a difficult target.
The analysts further indicated that the construction at Pickaxe Mountain has shifted from active excavation to likely internal construction and ongoing exterior reinforcement.
However, the analysts noted that the “continuous construction” at the site suggests it is not yet ready for enrichment work, if that is its intended purpose.
Pentagon Eyes Deeper Iran Targets
The recent developments at Pickaxe Mountain come after President Donald Trump threatened to attack the site in July, despite there being “no activity” at the time. Trump stated that the authorities were watching it closely and would probably give it a shot “relatively soon.”
The U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 under “Operation Midnight Hammer,” damaging key facilities but leaving the deeply buried Isfahan site largely intact. According to CNN, the Pentagon is now developing a next-generation penetrator bomb capable of reaching deeper underground targets, with prototype work launched last year.
Defense officials are continuing to develop plans for decisive strikes on underground facilities, with Pentagon elements recently conducting a focused “planning sprint” on potential operations, according to the publication.
The Defense Department did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
IAEA Seeks Access To Iran’s Nuclear Sites
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to verify Iran’s nuclear program for more than a year, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said Monday, according to The Jerusalem Post.
Grossi said the agency lacks access to information on Iran’s declared stocks of low-enriched uranium and highly enriched uranium enriched up to 60% at nuclear facilities affected by the June 2025 military attacks. He called the lack of access a serious nuclear proliferation concern that requires urgent action.
Grossi urged Iran to cooperate fully with the agency and meet its obligations under the NPT Safeguards Agreement. He also called for a return to diplomacy and negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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