Satellite imagery analysis reveals a clear surge in construction activity this year at Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected Iranian nuclear facility located near the Natanz complex. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report indicates the underground site is likely intended to serve as a safe haven for Iran's nuclear program.

The facility, situated about 140 miles south of Tehran, has shifted from active excavation to internal construction and exterior reinforcement. Analysts note that the continuous construction suggests the site is not yet ready for enrichment work, if that is its intended purpose. The granite mountain embedding the facility presents significant challenges, with CSIS reporting that even the Pentagon's heaviest non-nuclear bombs would find it a difficult target.

Pentagon Develops Deeper Strike Capabilities

The developments follow President Donald Trump's July threat to attack the site, despite there being no activity at that time. Trump stated authorities were watching it closely and would probably strike relatively soon. The U.S. struck Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 under Operation Midnight Hammer, damaging key facilities but leaving the deeply buried Isfahan site largely intact.

According to CNN, the Pentagon is now developing a next-generation penetrator bomb capable of reaching deeper underground targets, with prototype work launched last year. Defense officials are continuing to develop plans for decisive strikes on underground facilities, with Pentagon elements recently conducting a focused planning sprint on potential operations.

IAEA Cites Lack of Access

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to verify Iran's nuclear program for more than a year, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said Monday. Grossi stated the agency lacks access to information on Iran's declared stocks of low-enriched uranium and highly enriched uranium enriched up to 60% at nuclear facilities affected by the June 2025 military attacks.

He called the lack of access a serious nuclear proliferation concern requiring urgent action. Grossi urged Iran to cooperate fully with the agency and meet its obligations under the NPT Safeguards Agreement, while also calling for a return to diplomacy and negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson has announced a new maritime restricted zone. The zone extends from the port of Chabahar into parts of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

Expanded zone details

This announcement adds to earlier statements by Iran’s Security Council Secretary Rezaei, who identified himself in state media reports as Ali Shamkhani. Rezaei had previously declared a restricted zone beyond the Strait of Hormuz, starting from the line of the U.S. Navy’s blockade and extending into the Persian Gulf.

Key details of the announcements

Military and diplomatic context

Rezaei claimed that 48 hours prior to his announcement, Iran tested an anti-ship missile above a U.S. warship for the first time. He stated the missile created "hell" for the Americans, who "fled." The official emphasized that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz open only if the United States neither threatens nor attacks Iran.

In broader diplomatic remarks, Rezaei criticized U.S. policy as seeking "servants who follow orders blindly." He asserted that Americans have never honored commitments and cited the Pahlavi dynasty as having been abandoned by the U.S. after fleeing revolutionary pressure. Rezaei also dismissed claims that U.S. sanctions have caused famine in Iran, stating the government holds sufficient stocks of food and basic goods.