IAEA Detects Activity at Iran's Fortified "Mountain" Nuclear Site

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has detected significant Iranian activity near the "Mountain" site, an fortified Iranian facility. This comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened strikes on the site, alleging uranium enrichment.

The "Mountain" site, located in the Zagros Mountains approximately 220 kilometers south of Tehran and near the main Natanz uranium enrichment facility, has not been accessed by IAEA inspectors. However, satellite imagery reviewed from a distance indicates new movement in the area.

This development follows the IAEA's Board of Governors decision to refer Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council due to Tehran's non-compliance with nuclear activity requirements. This marks the first such action against Iran in about 20 years, with 23 countries reportedly voting in favor. Inspectors have been unable to verify the status and location of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile since June 2025, following joint Israeli-U.S. strikes on extensive Iranian nuclear facilities.

Work at the "Mountain" site reportedly began after a sabotage incident at an Iranian centrifuge production workshop six years ago. Iranian officials stated they would move operations into tunnels within the mountain to create a facility protected from attacks. The referral to the Security Council could increase pressure on Tehran and potentially lead to further military strikes on its nuclear facilities, according to Bloomberg.

Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is the reason for the confrontation with the Islamic Republic. Iran, meanwhile, warned Western nations against turning the IAEA into a "war tool," claiming that the 2025 Israeli and American attacks, which followed an IAEA determination of non-compliance, indicated a hidden agenda. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also cautioned against the growing discussion of nuclear weapons acquisition and use, stating that in a world of increasing conflicts, further nuclear proliferation would be devastating.