US President Donald Trump warned Iran after detecting 'small activity' at the underground Mount Machush site, while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed satellite imagery shows construction activity there. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the agency has indications of movement but cannot yet inspect the underground complex. Trump reiterated a threat to strike the site.
President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday after the United States detected what he called "small activity" at the underground Mount Machush facility near Natanz. "I would advise Iran not to try to be clever, because we will be forced to strike with force," Trump said at the Republican convention, according to N12.
Simultaneously, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it identified construction activity at the site. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi told Bloomberg that satellite imagery indicates movement around the construction area, though the agency cannot yet inspect the underground complex. "There are some indications of movement around this construction site, but we have no concrete information about the activity that may be taking place there," Grossi said.
A separate analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), based on satellite imagery, pointed to a significant increase in construction activity at the Mount Machush site during the conflict between Iran and the United States. Intelligence assessments suggest Iran may be moving centrifuges to the hardened facility to protect its nuclear program. As The Zioneer reported earlier today, the IAEA's detection at Mount Machush underscores the urgency of the nuclear monitoring challenge, with the international community lacking direct access to the site.
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