Netanyahu says Iran renewing nuclear progress

[Single-sourced report; no independent confirmation of the claims and no verifiable expert quote available.]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al‑Nahyan on September 30, 2026, that Iran is renewing progress on its nuclear program, officials said. The information presented included details of new construction work at a mountainous site called "Pickaxe Mountain," about 140 miles south of Tehran, the officials said.

Pickaxe Mountain construction

Officials said the material Netanyahu shared described recent building activity at the site and accompanying infrastructure work. The officials did not provide independent verification of the imagery or documentation cited, and no international agency confirmation was available at the time of the report.

The disclosure is likely to heighten diplomatic tensions between Iran and Gulf states, officials said, and could spur calls for international démarches or renewed sanctions discussions. Regional governments and Western capitals have in the past used such claims to request inspections or to press for measures through multilateral bodies.

If partners seek coordinated diplomatic steps, officials said coordinated responses could materialize within two weeks (by October 14, 2026). Readers should watch for formal statements from regional governments and any requests for international inspections by that date.