DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Satellite imagery has revealed significant new construction activity at two Iranian nuclear facilities previously damaged in military strikes, raising concerns about Tehran’s efforts to conceal potential salvage operations of nuclear materials. Recent images from Planet Labs PBC show newly constructed roofs covering damaged structures at both the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites, marking the first major observable activity since last year’s conflict with Israel.
The protective coverings effectively block satellite surveillance, creating a critical intelligence gap as Iran continues to deny access to International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Neither Iranian officials nor the IAEA have publicly commented on these developments.
According to nuclear experts analyzing the imagery, the roofing projects likely represent attempts to obscure assessment and recovery operations rather than reconstruction efforts. Andrea Stricker of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted that Tehran appears to be determining ‘whether key assets — such as limited stocks of highly enriched uranium — survived the strikes’ without international observation.
The Natanz facility, located approximately 220 kilometers south of Tehran, previously served as Iran’s primary uranium enrichment center, where advanced centrifuges enriched uranium to 60% purity—just a technical step from weapons-grade levels. The Isfahan site primarily produced uranium gas for centrifuge processing.
Following June’s 12-day conflict, Israeli strikes initially targeted these facilities, with subsequent U.S. attacks employing bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The U.S. government claimed these operations ‘significantly degraded Iran’s nuclear program,’ though specific damage assessments remain scarce publicly.
Additional concerning developments include ongoing excavation work at Kūh-e Kolang Gaz Lā (Pickaxe Mountain) near Natanz, where Iran is suspected of constructing a new underground nuclear facility. Meanwhile, at Isfahan, satellite imagery shows defensive measures including tunnels packed with dirt as protection against missile strikes.
Parallel reconstruction efforts are underway at Iran’s ballistic missile facilities, including the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran. Particularly notable is the rapid rebuilding of the ‘Taleghan 2’ site—destroyed in an October 2024 airstrike—which previously housed explosive chambers and specialized X-ray systems for nuclear weapons research.
These developments occur amid escalating regional tensions, with the U.S. deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln and several guided-missile destroyers to the Middle East. Former President Trump had repeatedly demanded Iran negotiate over its nuclear program while threatening military action in response to Tehran’s crackdown on domestic protests.