IAEA Chief Grossi Confirms New Construction at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain Site

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the agency has observed satellite indications of construction and movement at Iran's Pickaxe Mountain (Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La) tunnel complex near the damaged Natanz enrichment site, while noting inspectors have never entered the facility and the agency lacks concrete information on what activity is occurring underground.

Why this matters. Confirmed construction at a fortified, unvisited tunnel complex adjacent to Natanz feeds directly into the UN Security Council's non-compliance referral on Iran's nuclear program and could trigger renewed Israeli or US strike planning.