The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has detected signs of activity at Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain complex, a site Western intelligence agencies have identified as a possible location for storing nuclear material.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told Bloomberg that satellite images reviewed by the agency showed signs of movement around the site. However, he said the IAEA does not yet have enough information to determine what activities are taking place there.

“There are some indications that there is movement around this construction site,” Grossi said, adding that the agency had no concrete information on the activities at the location.

The IAEA has been unable to inspect the underground facility at Pickaxe Mountain, which is located near Iran’s Natanz nuclear complex. The agency has instead relied on satellite imagery to monitor developments at the site.

Grossi said Iranian officials had previously indicated that some sensitive nuclear infrastructure would be relocated to underground facilities built inside mountains to protect them from possible military attacks.

The development comes after Israeli and US strikes damaged several Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day conflict in June 2025.

Since then, Iran has restricted IAEA access to nuclear sites affected by the attacks, preventing the agency from independently verifying the current status of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against carrying out further activities at the site, saying Washington was closely monitoring developments at Pickaxe Mountain and could respond militarily.

A separate assessment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) also reported increased activity at the site.

The Washington-based think tank said its analysis of six years of satellite imagery showed a clear increase in construction activity across five key areas and connecting roads.

According to CSIS, activity at the site appears to have shifted from large-scale excavation to internal construction and further reinforcement of external infrastructure.

The think tank added that imagery from 2026 recorded the highest level of road activity at Pickaxe Mountain since monitoring began, with increased work around tunnel entrances, improved internal roads, reinforced access points and the removal of excavated materials.

IAEA Detects Activity at Iran’s Suspected Nuclear Site

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