Continued activity at Iran’s underground Pickaxe Mountain complex is fueling new concerns over Tehran’s compliance with its nuclear agreement with the United States, with a Washington-based nuclear watchdog citing fresh satellite imagery and the continued absence of international inspections at the site.
The Institute for Science and International Security said the International Atomic Energy Agency has never been permitted to inspect the facility, which is buried deep within Iran’s Zagros Mountains.
According to The Institute for Science and International Security, imagery captured in late June indicates that work at the underground installation has not stopped. The institute said such activity appears incompatible with the memorandum of understanding, arguing that Iran is expected to preserve existing conditions at nuclear-related sites until inspection and verification measures are completed.
AFSI Insight
Iran’s reported construction of a new underground nuclear facility while simultaneously engaging in negotiations with the United States reinforces a longstanding concern: the Iranian regime has consistently used diplomacy to buy time while advancing its nuclear ambitions. We are not surprised by this report, and it continues to raise serious questions about Tehran’s intentions and its willingness to honor any future commitments.
This development underscores why Israel cannot rely on promises from a regime that openly calls for its destruction. Any agreement that fails to require full transparency, verifiable inspections, and the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure risks endangering not only Israel but regional and global security. The lesson remains clear: vigilance, strength, and credible deterrence—not wishful thinking—are essential to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.