Iran Fortifies Nuclear Site Amidst US Threats and UN Sanctions Veto

New satellite imagery indicates that Iran has fortified its Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility, a site President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike. The enhancements include added earthen roadblocks and soil over tunnel entrances, according to a report from the Institute for Science and International Security.

These developments come after Trump issued a stern warning last week, stating, "I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard." The U.S. has been closely monitoring Pickaxe Mountain, with Trump previously indicating that Washington could "take out Pickaxe" if diplomatic efforts failed.

Pickaxe Mountain, located near the Natanz nuclear complex, is described as a deeply buried underground facility where construction began in 2020. Analysts estimate portions of the site may be buried at least 100 meters beneath the mountain, and Iran maintains that no nuclear activity occurs there. Experts suggest that while the window for a direct strike might be closing due to the site's depth, Washington retains options for impeding its operation, such as blocking its entrances.

In parallel, Iran is reportedly making rapid progress in reconstructing Taleghan 2 at the Parchin military complex. This facility, previously struck by Israel, has seen the erection of a tarp over the destroyed structure and significant activity from construction equipment. New concrete reinforcements have also been added, potentially offering further protection against aerial attacks.

These military developments occurred as Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee. The resolution sought to prolong international monitoring of sanctions on Tehran until September 2027.

The U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, stated that Washington considers the "snapback" sanctions to be legally in place and expects all parties to enforce them. He emphasized the importance of the expert panel in tracking sanctioned entities that attempt to evade restrictions by changing names and corporate structures.

The dispute over the resolution reflects a broader disagreement among Security Council members regarding the legal validity of the reimposed sanctions, with Russia and China rejecting the U.S. position.

Separately, an independent UN fact-finding mission released findings on Thursday, indicating reasonable grounds to believe that two U.S. strikes on Iranian civilian sites in February constituted war crimes. The mission also concluded that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their crackdown on anti-government protests. These findings are investigative and do not constitute criminal judgments.