▲ A satellite image of Iran's Pickaxe Mountain taken on June 21, 2026
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has detected new construction activity at Iran's major underground nuclear facility, known as "Pickaxe Mountain."
During an interview with Bloomberg TV on the 10th (local time), IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated, "Movement has been observed around the construction site at Pickaxe Mountain, which is located near the major uranium enrichment facility south of Tehran."
Grossi explained, "While we have confirmed signs through remote imagery, inspectors have not been able to access the inside of the tunnels, so we do not yet have information on specifically what activities are taking place."
Located in the Zagros Mountains about 220 kilometers south of the Iranian capital, Tehran, Pickaxe Mountain is a fortified facility built deep beneath granite terrain by Iran to protect its nuclear program from external attacks.
Following sabotage against an Iranian centrifuge workshop six years ago, Iranian officials stated that they would "relocate all facilities to impenetrable mountain tunnels."
Major intelligence agencies and experts analyze that this underground facility serves as a safe zone to continue core activities such as centrifuge assembly and uranium enrichment.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump warned at a Republican rally the previous day, "We have observed some activity at Pickaxe Mountain," adding, "Iran shouldn't play games. Otherwise, they will be hit very hard."
President Trump has raised the level of pressure by mentioning this facility twice in the past week.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a U.S. think tank, also released an analysis showing that construction activity at the site, suspected to be an Iranian underground nuclear facility, has surged this year.
The detection of this activity comes immediately after the IAEA Board of Governors referred the Iranian nuclear issue to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) due to Iran's non-compliance with its nuclear obligations, heightening tensions.
Iran reacted immediately.
In an 11-page diplomatic note, Iranian officials urged Western countries "not to use the IAEA as a tool for war."
The Iranian envoy pointed to the precedent set in June of last year when strikes by Israel and the U.S. occurred just hours after the adoption of an IAEA condemnation resolution, arguing that "this clearly proves the hidden intentions of their sponsors."
The envoy then asked diplomats to condemn the illegal attacks.
Meanwhile, Director General Grossi expressed deep concern over the international climate, noting an increasing number of countries re-evaluating their pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Strongly warning against this trend, he stated, "In a world plagued by frequent conflicts, nuclear proliferation will lead to terrible consequences," and added, "In this case, the probability that nuclear weapons will actually be used reaches 100%."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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