SouthernWorldwide.com – A leading American research institute focused on Iran’s nuclear program has raised significant concerns this week regarding the country’s uninspected underground facility located in the Zagros Mountains.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been denied access to this clandestine site, known as Pickaxe Mountain. The highly fortified nature of this facility casts serious doubt on Iran’s commitment to the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) previously agreed upon with the Trump administration.
It is important to note that the United States, in conjunction with Israel, launched “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28, 2026. This operation specifically targeted Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Experts from the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), based in Washington, argue that halting activities at Pickaxe Mountain and granting IAEA inspectors access would serve as a crucial demonstration of good faith. This action, they believe, would help ascertain Iran’s genuine willingness to cease its pattern of deception.
Spencer Faragasso, a senior fellow at ISIS who specializes in Iran, North Korea, illicit trade, and nuclear issues, shared his assessment on X. He stated that the ongoing work at Pickaxe Mountain is “deeply concerning.”
Faragasso elaborated that this work has been progressing steadily since at least 2020. He posits that this represents a strategic hedge by Iran, intended to be utilized if negotiations falter, thereby providing them with a nuclear facility in an advanced stage of construction.
The institute’s assessment suggests that Pickaxe Mountain is likely substantial enough to house a uranium enrichment plant. Iran has historically utilized facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan for uranium enrichment, a critical component for nuclear weapons development.
Faragasso further commented on the implications for negotiations. He stated that if Iran is genuinely committed to diplomatic engagement, it should cease construction at Pickaxe Mountain as a sign of good faith. However, he questioned what can be expected from a regime described as both “brutal and conniving.”
The institute has released a detailed analysis based on recent satellite imagery captured in late June 2026. These images reportedly show continued activity at Pickaxe Mountain.
According to the institute’s findings, the satellite imagery indicates vehicle activity on the roads leading to the exposed western tunnel entrances. This suggests that construction within the tunnel complex and the hardening of the tunnel entrances are actively underway.
The MOU signed between the United States and Iran mandates that Iran maintain the status quo. This agreement should, in principle, prohibit any construction at nuclear-related facilities, including Pickaxe Mountain.
The institute’s report also notes that the personnel entrances to the facility remain destroyed, and the vehicle entrances are severely damaged. A single vehicle was observed on the road outside the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP). This plant was reportedly destroyed in June 2025 but was subsequently covered by Iran.
Furthermore, as of June 29, 2026, no activity was observed at the Esfahan site, with the tunnel portals remaining backfilled with dirt. ISIS has also been monitoring developments at the Fordow site, which is located deep within a mountain north of the holy city of Qom.
Regarding Fordow, the institute previously reported that between May 10 and May 18, Iran implemented passive defensive measures. These measures involved the placement of earthen/rocky mounds and other objects along the roads leading to the tunnel entrances.
The precise and alternating placement of these piles and objects is notable. The institute suggests this arrangement creates a series of chicanes, indicating they are not intended as simple obstructions but rather as a means to control the speed of vehicles approaching and departing the tunnels.
An image from June 21 confirms that these objects along the road at Fordow are still in place. Additionally, the tunnel portals at Fordow also remain backfilled with dirt, according to the institute’s observations.
