The United States and its allies need clear answers about suspicious construction at Pickaxe Mountain in Iran’s Zagros range; satellite images and expert analysis suggest ongoing underground work that Iran should either halt and open to inspection or face consequences. This article lays out what the imagery shows, why it matters, and the straightforward Republican view on what should happen next.
The core fact is simple: satellite imagery points to active construction and vehicle movement at a fortified site in the Zagros Mountains known as Pickaxe Mountain. Given Iran’s record of deception, continued work there is immediately alarming and demands transparency. If Iran truly intends to abide by agreements, inspectors should be allowed in right now.
One of the leading American institutes devoted to research on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program sounded the alarm this week over the regime’s uninspected underground site in the Zagros Mountains. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have not been allowed to visit the secret site, known as Pickaxe Mountain.
The highly fortified facility is casting serious doubt on Iran’s willingness to abide by the terms of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached with the Trump administration. The United States, together with Israel, launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Experts from the Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) argue that halting work at Pickaxe Mountain and allowing IAEA inspectors access would be a key good-faith measure to test whether Iran is prepared to abandon its pattern of deception.
The visual evidence is what drives concern: roads around western tunnel portals show vehicle tracks, and construction or hardening work appears to be underway at entry points. Other tunnel portals to the east look partially backfilled, a sign Iran might be deliberately limiting access to parts of the complex. That mix of activity and concealment is exactly why inspectors must get a look inside.
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The U.S. Republican stance is direct and no-nonsense: Iran has a long habit of lying about its nuclear intentions, and it should not be rewarded with delay or nuance. If inspectors are barred and construction continues, diplomatic patience runs out and pressure must rise. That pressure can include tougher sanctions, tighter targeting of IRGC networks, and working closely with Israel to ensure the regime understands the costs of deception.
There are two clear scenarios. One, Iran halts work at Pickaxe Mountain, allows IAEA access, and starts a real process of transparency; that would be a limited confidence-building step. Two, Iran refuses, keeps building, and demonstrates it intends to keep hidden capabilities or prepare hardened facilities to survive strikes. The latter cannot be accepted by a country that openly threatens the region and wants nuclear capability.
https://x.com/TheGoodISIS/status/2072755799810592818
On the Pickaxe Mountain site:
At Pickaxe Mountain, vehicle activity can be seen on the roads leading to the open set of Western tunnel portals, indicating that construction inside the tunnel complex, as well hardening of the tunnel entrance, are ongoing. The MOU signed between the United States and Iran requires that Iran maintain the status quo which should prohibit construction at any nuclear related facility, including Pickaxe Mountain. As first reported by the Institute in early May (see: ), the Eastern set of tunnel portals remain partially backfilled with dirt, making them inaccessible to ground vehicles. This was likely done to prevent rapid ingress and egress to the tunnel entrances.
Satellite analysts note that partial backfilling is a deliberate method to restrict access while preserving underground work, a tactic consistent with efforts to hide sensitive activity. Iran’s proximity of Pickaxe Mountain to known nuclear sites raises the stakes further, because underground complexes are valuable both for concealment and potential resilience against strikes. That reality makes inspection and verification non-negotiable.
There are also what appear to be.
Operationally, any American administration that takes Iran at its word without demanding verification is making a dangerous gamble. Republican policymakers argue that deterrence and accountability, not trust, prevent proliferation. The right response is to combine diplomatic channels with credible threats and the readiness to act if Iran continues to conceal work tied to nuclear or military programs.
What matters now is transparency and verification, not wishful thinking. If Iran opens Pickaxe Mountain to neutral inspectors and halts construction, the world can judge whether it truly intends to comply. If it refuses, the international community should respond decisively to ensure Tehran cannot quietly rebuild or hide a program that poses a grave threat to regional and global security.
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Editor’s Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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