‘Fresh Activity’ Seen At Iran’s Nuclear Site

Iran appears to be digging in at one of its most closely watched underground sites, adding new defenses around tunnel entrances near the Natanz nuclear complex as tensions with the United States continue to escalate.

New satellite imagery reviewed by the Institute for Science and International Security shows additional earthen barriers and soil around entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, a deeply buried facility President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike.

Imagery from Sept. 11 shows roadblocks still blocking access to western tunnel portals, according to the institute.

The group said the restricted access supports its assessment that the facility is not currently being used for normal operations, while also suggesting valuable equipment or materials may remain inside.

Analysts also identified additional soil placed over one western tunnel portal and a nearby cluster of older entrances.

The institute said the extra earth increases protection around the entrances and could make them harder to damage in an aerial attack.

The latest imagery comes one week after Trump renewed his warning to Tehran.

“We notice there’s a little activity at Pickaxe,” Trump told reporters last week. “I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard.”

Trump has repeatedly made clear that Pickaxe Mountain remains under U.S. surveillance.

During a July interview, Trump said Washington knew “exactly what’s going on,” and warned that the U.S. could “take out Pickaxe” if negotiations failed.

The underground complex sits roughly two kilometers from Natanz and includes multiple tunnel entrances leading deep beneath the mountain.

Construction began in 2020 after sabotage damaged an advanced centrifuge assembly facility at Natanz.

🚨 IRAN: New satellite imagery reportedly shows significant construction activity at the Taleghan 2 site, with numerous trucks and heavy equipment visible around the facility.

A large covering has also been erected over part of the site, obscuring activity underneath from… pic.twitter.com/H7SxXE7fEO

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) September 17, 2026

Iranian officials later said a replacement underground facility was being built for advanced centrifuge production.

Analysts estimate sections of Pickaxe Mountain may sit at least 100 meters underground.

Iran has denied that nuclear activity is taking place at the site.

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said some analysts believe the easiest window for attacking the facility may already have closed.

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“The window to strike Pickaxe Mountain, according to some, has already expired because the regime has dug an underground nuclear facility several times deeper than Fordow,” Ben Taleblu said.

He argued that the U.S. could still target the entrances even if destroying the entire underground complex proved difficult.

“Washington can do what it’s traditionally been able to do with sites that are underground, hardened and fortified, and that’s to bury their entrances and raise the political cost to the Islamic Republic of being able to dig out,” he said.

“While there may not be the perfect munition just yet, Uncle Sam always has a bigger bomb,” Ben Taleblu added. “And in the meantime, what they can do is show that they mean business by burying the entrances.”

Separate satellite imagery also shows Iran rebuilding another sensitive facility at the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran.

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The institute said Iran was “rapidly moving forward” with reconstruction at Taleghan 2, including placing a tarp over the damaged structure and adding concrete reinforcement.

The moves come as the diplomatic fight over Iran is intensifying at the United Nations.

Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-drafted Security Council resolution Thursday that would have extended the mandate of the expert panel monitoring Iran sanctions through September 2027.

The measure received 11 votes in favor, while Pakistan and Somalia abstained.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said Washington considers sanctions against Iran to have been legally restored.

“The snapback sanctions… occurred, the United States and this U.N. Security Council followed appropriate procedures for that to occur,” Waltz said Wednesday at a news conference attended by Fox News Digital. “Those sanctions are in place and we expect those who are a party to fully enforce those sanctions.”

Waltz said continued monitoring remains important because sanctioned entities can attempt to dodge restrictions by changing names or corporate structures.

“The president has been clear, and the world community has been clear with resolution after resolution, that the Iranian regime cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Waltz said.

Russia and China, however, dispute the legal basis for restoring the sanctions and opposed extending the monitoring panel.

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