Aerial surveillance shows Iran rapidly restoring its bombed Fordow nuclear site, signaling defiance and preserving access to its most fortified uranium facility.
At a Glance
- Satellite imagery confirms excavators and bulldozers operating at Fordow nuclear site.
- US bombers targeted Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan in a June strike operation.
- Construction crews are sealing tunnels and building new access roads.
- IAEA reports Fordow centrifuges are idle, but facility access remains intact.
- Reports suggest Iran may be moving assets to a secret site dubbed “Pickaxe Mountain.”
Rebuilding the Bomb Zone
Fresh satellite images captured in late June show Iranian construction teams working to repair the Fordow nuclear facility following US airstrikes earlier this month. Bulldozers and excavators appear to be filling bomb craters and clearing debris at tunnel mouths, while dirt roads have been visibly restored. This activity follows “Operation Midnight Hammer,” during which U.S. B-2 bombers deployed GBU-57 “bunker-buster” munitions on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Despite declarations from the Pentagon and former President Trump that the strikes had “completely obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, new images suggest otherwise. The pace of recovery at Fordow underscores both the depth of Iran’s defensive engineering and its commitment to preserving critical enrichment capacity.
Watch a report: Satellite Images Reveal Iran Rebuilding Fordow
Iran’s Countermove: Fortify and Conceal
Defense analysts say the presence of heavy equipment and newly leveled roads indicates not just cleanup, but rapid strategic fortification of the site. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Fordow’s centrifuges are currently inactive—but also that Iran retains full physical access to the underground complex, raising alarm over how quickly it could resume operations.
Adding to concerns, Iran previously resumed enrichment at Fordow to 60% uranium-235 using IR-6 centrifuges—just short of weapons-grade material. With infrastructure repair underway, the potential for reactivation looms.
Hidden Stockpiles? Spotlight on “Pickaxe Mountain”
While Fordow grabs attention, intelligence reports point to a secondary site: a suspected secret underground complex near Natanz known as “Pickaxe Mountain.” Allegedly fortified beyond reach of bunker-buster bombs, this location may have served as a storage or contingency facility in advance of the strikes.
Media reports and analyst warnings suggest Iran transferred enriched uranium and sensitive equipment to the site prior to Operation Midnight Hammer. The IAEA has requested access, but Iran has yet to permit inspections, intensifying suspicions that vital components of its nuclear program were never at risk.
Strategic Fallout
Though US strikes damaged key nuclear infrastructure, Fordow’s rapid reconstruction and the existence of potential fallback sites like Pickaxe Mountain raise questions about the operation’s long-term effectiveness. Analysts caution that without sustained pressure and full inspection access, Iran’s nuclear ambitions may remain largely unimpeded.
