Iran is Rapidly Reconstructing Taleghan 2
Vantor Technologies satellite imagery from September 13, 2026, shows that Iran is rapidly moving forward with the reconstruction of the Taleghan 2 facility located at the Parchin military complex. Iran has erected a tarp above the destroyed hardened buried facility, hiding the reconstruction activity that is occurring underneath from satellite view or aerial reconnaissance. Significant activity can be seen throughout the construction site. Construction vehicles, including dump trucks, bulldozers, concrete pump trucks and concrete mixers, and cranes, are actively working to rebuild the facility. Repair and rehabilitation work began in June 2026, first with Iran repairing and placing concrete caps over the penetration holes caused by the multiple bunker buster weapons dropped on the facility.[1] Iran has also built a new concrete apron reinforcement on the right side of the facility, the one on the left side that we noted in our July 2026 update now appears complete. This will provide additional blast protection from an aerial attack.
Imagery Update: Passive Defenses Identified at Natanz and Pickaxe Mountain
Vantor Technologies imagery from September 11, 2026, shows that the earthen mound roadblocks are still in place, blocking ground vehicle access to the Western tunnel portals. The week-long restricted access reinforces the assessment that the facility is not currently used for operations, but that it does contain valuable equipment and/or materials. The clearly visible roadblocks mean a return to regular access and activity at the Western tunnel entrances should easily be detected by U.S. intelligence and visible on commercially available imagery. Together with the previously blocked Eastern tunnel entrances, the new roadblocks effectively established a status quo inside the facility starting in early August.
Saudi/U.S. Nuclear Cooperation: A Framework for a “Black Box” Enrichment Plant
The public U.S.-Saudi Arabia nuclear cooperation package of agreements, minute, and unclassified Nonproliferation Assessment appears deliberately structured so that a U.S. designed, built, and operated enrichment facility can be deployed in Saudi Arabia without automatically transferring the centrifuge technology embodied in that facility.
Imagery Update: Iran Limits Access to Tunnel Entrances at Pickaxe Mountain
Satellite imagery shows that Iran added a series of earthen piles across the roads leading to the Western tunnel entrances at the end of July and early August 2026. Figure 1 shows the roadblocks as of August 21, 2026. The roadblocks are still in place as of September 11. These roadblocks are likely intended as defensive measures to prevent rapid ingress and egress to and from the tunnel portals. This decision follows media reporting in late July 2026 that Iran had moved centrifuges into the facility after the June 2025 war and President Trump's public comments regarding potential future U.S. attacks on the Pickaxe mountain facility.
What to Know About Pickaxe Mountain
On July 13, President Trump made it clear that the nuclear-related Pickaxe mountain facility is on the U.S. target list. In an interview on the Hugh Hewitt show, the President stated, “We have eyes on it and Pickaxe mountain is a possible target for a nice big fat shot right in the front door…We’re watching Pickaxe Mountain very closely. We don’t see any activity there.” Trump finished the interview with a more definitive statement: “We're going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready.” The tunnel facility under construction has not been previously targeted in either June 2025 or 2026 war, aside from the destruction of a vehicle on a nearby spoil pile, which we believe was most likely associated with air defense. Our assessment of satellite imagery to date is that the facility is not yet operational, but construction continues.
Featured
Imagery Update: Passive Defenses Identified at Natanz and Pickaxe Mountain
Vantor Technologies imagery from September 11, 2026, shows that the earthen mound roadblocks are still in place, blocking ground vehicle access to the Western tunnel portals. The week-long restricted access reinforces the assessment that the facility is not currently used for operations, but that it does contain valuable equipment and/or materials. The clearly visible roadblocks mean a return to regular access and activity at the Western tunnel entrances should easily be detected by U.S. intelligence and visible on commercially available imagery. Together with the previously blocked Eastern tunnel entrances, the new roadblocks effectively established a status quo inside the facility starting in early August.
Iran is Rapidly Reconstructing Taleghan 2
Vantor Technologies satellite imagery from September 13, 2026, shows that Iran is rapidly moving forward with the reconstruction of the Taleghan 2 facility located at the Parchin military complex. Iran has erected a tarp above the destroyed hardened buried facility, hiding the reconstruction activity that is occurring underneath from satellite view or aerial reconnaissance. Significant activity can be seen throughout the construction site. Construction vehicles, including dump trucks, bulldozers, concrete pump trucks and concrete mixers, and cranes, are actively working to rebuild the facility. Repair and rehabilitation work began in June 2026, first with Iran repairing and placing concrete caps over the penetration holes caused by the multiple bunker buster weapons dropped on the facility.[1] Iran has also built a new concrete apron reinforcement on the right side of the facility, the one on the left side that we noted in our July 2026 update now appears complete. This will provide additional blast protection from an aerial attack.
Imagery Update: Iran Limits Access to Tunnel Entrances at Pickaxe Mountain
Satellite imagery shows that Iran added a series of earthen piles across the roads leading to the Western tunnel entrances at the end of July and early August 2026. Figure 1 shows the roadblocks as of August 21, 2026. The roadblocks are still in place as of September 11. These roadblocks are likely intended as defensive measures to prevent rapid ingress and egress to and from the tunnel portals. This decision follows media reporting in late July 2026 that Iran had moved centrifuges into the facility after the June 2025 war and President Trump's public comments regarding potential future U.S. attacks on the Pickaxe mountain facility.
Employing Science in the Pursuit of Peace
The Institute for Science and International Security is a non-profit, non-partisan institution dedicated to informing the public about science and policy issues affecting international security.
LEARN MORE
Media & Education
Global Studies
A collection of non-proliferation studies conducted by the Institute on groups of countries, their non-proliferation commitments, fissile material stocks, and assessments of global non-proliferation efforts and events.
LEARN MOREInstitute Books
A collection of Institute books on various countries' nuclear weapons programs, illicit trade, and fissile material production.
LEARN MOREPosts & Reactions
Inst for Science
September 23, 2026
Satellite Imagery Reveals New Cable Defenses at Alabuga Drone Facilities
A close review of @vantortech satellite imagery from September 11 and 19, 2026, has revealed cables strung between defensive towers constructed at the Alabuga Special Economic Zone surrounding the Shahed/Geran production facilities. The cables strung between towers serve as a passive defense against incoming cruise missiles or long-range strike drones seeking to target the drone production facilities. Drones or cruise missiles will strike the cables, causing them to detonate in the air instead of striking the production facilities directly or force aircraft to come in high and make them more vulnerable to anti aircraft defenses. More towers are still being constructed
The Iraqis used this same tactic to protect Al Tuwaitha Nuclear Research Center during the Iran/Iraq war up until the 1981 bombing of the Osirak reactor by Israel.
The Institute first identified these passive defensive towers in our last update, which can be read here: https://isis-online.org/isis-reports/new-passive-defensive-construction-identified-at-the-alabuga-sez
Alabuga is also working hard to construct new facilities just south of the main production complex, identified by Dnipro Osint (https://t.me/DniproOfficial/8178). The facilities cover a large area, consisting of half a dozen or more buildings, with more actively under construction. This would constitute a large expansion of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone. Some of the buildings are in the process of being buried under multiple layers of dirt and reinforced concrete in order to harden them from potential attacks.
You can also follow our experts on X: David Albright (@DAVIDHALBRIGHT1); Sarah Burkhard (@SarahBurkhard); Spencer Faragasso (@SFnuclear)