Experts say ‘deeply’ concerned over Iran’s work at underground nuclear site

One of nan starring American institutes devoted to investigation connected nan Islamic Republic’s atomic programme sounded nan siren this week complete nan regime's uninspected underground tract successful nan Zagros Mountains. Inspectors from nan International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) person not been allowed to sojourn nan concealed site, known arsenic Pickaxe Mountain.

The highly secretive installation is casting superior uncertainty connected Iran’s willingness to abide by nan position of nan memorandum of knowing (MOU) reached pinch nan Trump administration. The United States, together pinch Israel, launched Operation Epic Fury connected February 28, 2026, targeting Iran’s atomic and rocket capabilities.

Experts from nan Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) reason that halting activity astatine Pickaxe Mountain and allowing IAEA inspectors entree would beryllium a cardinal good-faith measurement to trial whether Iran is prepared to wantonness its shape of deception.

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Satellite image shows an overview of nan Pickaxe Mountain passageway analyzable successful Natanz. (Vantor/Handout via REUTERS)

Spencer Faragasso, a elder chap pinch group who covers Iran, North Korea, illicit trade, and atomic issues, wrote connected X: "Important update by america astatine @TheGoodISIS. The ongoing activity astatine Pickaxe Mountain is profoundly concerning. This activity has continued steadily since astatine slightest 2020. In my view, this is simply a hedge by Iran successful lawsuit negotiations neglect — they will past person a atomic installation successful a precocious shape of construction. We assessed that Pickaxe is apt ample capable to clasp an enrichment plant."

Iran has utilized accommodation astatine Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan to enrich uranium, nan cardinal worldly for a atomic weapons program.

Faragasso added, "If Iran is superior astir negotiating, it should halt building astatine Pickaxe Mountain arsenic a token of bully faith. But what tin beryllium expected from a authorities arsenic sadistic and conniving arsenic Iran’s?"

The institute posted a elaborate study of caller outer imagery from precocious June 2026 showing continued activity astatine Pickaxe Mountain. 

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Vice President JD Vance anterior to a quadrilateral gathering betwixt nan United States, Iran, Pakistan and Qatar astatine nan Burgenstock luxury edifice analyzable overlooking Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, connected Sunday June 21, 2026. (Fabrice Coffrini/Keystone via AP)

The institute wrote that "at Pickaxe Mountain, conveyance activity tin beryllium seen connected nan roads starring to nan unfastened group of Western passageway portals, indicating that building wrong nan passageway complex, arsenic good arsenic hardening of nan passageway entrance, are ongoing. The MOU signed betwixt nan United States and Iran requires that Iran support nan position quo, which should prohibit building astatine immoderate nuclear-related facility, including Pickaxe Mountain."

In precocious June, nan IAEA declined to reply a elaborate Fox News Digital query connected whether it would activity entree to nan Pickaxe Mountain facility. According to nan outer imagery obtained by nan institute: "At Natanz, small activity tin beryllium seen. The entree points to nan below-ground enrichment halls person not been repaired. The unit entrances stay destroyed and conveyance entrances stay severely damaged. A azygous conveyance tin beryllium seen connected nan roadworthy extracurricular of nan Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), which was destroyed successful June 2025 but was later covered by Iran."

As U.S.-Iran talks opened Sunday successful Switzerland, a conflict complete who controls and monitors billions of dollars successful perchance unfrozen Iranian assets emerged (Fabrice Coffrini/Pool via REUTERS)

The institute besides reported: "As of June 29, 2026, location is nary observed activity astatine Esfahan. The passageway portals stay backfilled pinch dirt." ISIS tracked developments astatine nan Fordow site, buried wrong a upland northbound of nan beatified Islamic metropolis of Qom.

"At Fordow, arsenic earlier reported by nan Institute, betwixt May 10 and May 18, Iran added passive protect measures successful nan shape of earthen/rocky mounds and different objects connected nan roads starring to nan passageway entrances. The alternating placements of nan piles/objects are very precise, which creates a bid of chicanes, indicating they are not intended arsenic obstructions but alternatively to forestall accelerated ingress and egress by immoderate conveyance toward nan tunnels."

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The institute added, "The June 21 Vantor image shows that nan objects on nan roadworthy stay there. The passageway portals besides stay backfilled pinch dirt," astatine Fordow.

Fox News Digital sent questions to nan State Department and nan Iranian Mission to nan United Nations.