IAEA Detects Construction Activity at Suspect Iranian Nuclear Site

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Thursday that it has detected construction activity at the Parchin site in Iran. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated in an interview with Bloomberg that there are "indications of movement around this construction site," but added that the agency "does not have concrete information regarding activities that may be occurring there."

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that the U.S. had identified activity at Parchin, warning, "We may need to hit there. We can't have Iran with nuclear weapons. It's very simple."

The site, believed to be a nuclear facility buried under a mountain near the Natanz nuclear complex, has seen a significant increase in construction activity this year, according to a CNN report from Wednesday. Satellite imagery analyzed over the past six years shows a clear rise in construction volume in the last year, as reported by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Parchin, located approximately 225 kilometers south of Tehran, has been a focus for intelligence agencies in recent months due to concerns that Iran may be secretly reviving its nuclear program there. Trump has previously suggested the U.S. might strike the site.

CSIS analysis of satellite images indicates that construction has shifted from "active excavation" to what appears to be "internal construction and continued external reinforcement." The report notes "more road activity than ever before" at Parchin in 2026. Additional work includes raising and reinforcing tunnel entrances, paving internal roads, reinforcing access areas, and clearing excavated earth. However, the ongoing construction suggests the site may not yet be capable of enrichment activities, if that is its intended purpose.