IAEA's Grossi says Iranian Pickaxe Mountain seeing new construction activity - report
On Friday, US President Donald Trump threatened that he may soon order strikes against the site, with the US military currently developing a new bunker-buster munition for the task.
IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi reported on satellite imagery showing construction activity at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, located south of Natanz. The IAEA has not yet inspected the underground site, according to Grossi. Analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) claim the activity has shifted from excavation to internal construction and exterior reinforcement.
However, the site is not yet capable of enrichment work, if that is its intended purpose. US President Donald Trump hinted at potential strikes against the facility, as the US military develops a new bunker-buster munition capable of penetrating deeply buried structures. The US awarded a prototype contract for the new munition in September 2025.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
