Iran Attempts To Restore Nuclear Sites Damaged In US And Israel Strikes, CNN Satellite Images Show

Iran is attempting to restore nuclear sites damaged during the US and Israel's Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, according to a Friday CNN report based on satellite imagery of the sites.

“Reinforcing the entrances of tunnels near the Natanz nuclear site - Author: Ama Pangli and Ghoncheh Habibi Azad - Occupation: BBC Verify and the BBC Persian fact-checking desk - Published in - Reading time: 5 minutes Based on satellite images, Iran is strengthening a tunnel complex near the Natanz nuclear facilities”

BBC

The imagery was reportedly captured in June and July and allegedly showed nuclear sites in Iran's Parchin and Pickaxe Mountain being repaired, with CNN noting that the Parchin imagery showed temporary coverings placed over impact holes from US and Israeli strikes.

BBC

CNN also reported that concrete mixing trucks were visible in the imagery, indicating that Iran may be preparing to seal the impact holes, while additional imagery from Iran's Pickaxe Mountain facility showed construction vehicles moving in and out of the underground site.

The US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) requires Iran to maintain the status quo at all nuclear sites, CNN noted, and US President Donald Trump said at a press conference at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey that the MoU was over.

CNN reported that no repairs were seen at Iran's Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz nuclear sites, even as it shared imagery of repair attempts at damaged Iranian missile bases.

A CNN visual investigation found evidence of repair and reconstruction work at Taleghan 2, a facility inside the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran, with satellite images dated June 22 and July 7 showing activity around impact craters.

The report said the site is believed by experts to house explosive materials used in the development of nuclear weapons, and it also highlighted activity at Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility near the central city of Isfahan.

CNN

CNN noted that imagery dated June 21 showed vehicles entering and leaving tunnel entrances while a memorandum between Iran and the United States remained in effect, according to the report.

The Institute for Science and International Security analysis described the reconstruction work at Taleghan 2 as including excavation around three bomb penetration holes in the facility’s roof, additional concrete reinforcement, and the apparent installation of rebar for a permanent concrete cap.

The i24NEWS report said the activity occurred while the June 17 memorandum with the United States was in effect, and it added that Trump declared the agreement “over” on Wednesday.

BBC Verify reported that based on satellite images, Iran is strengthening a tunnel complex near the Natanz nuclear facilities, with construction activities underway to reinforce the entrances of two tunnels named Klang Zelā (or Mount Klang) in Isfahan Province and near the Natanz site.

“According to Reuters, based on assessments by specialized agencies, Iran in recent months has been reconfiguring and strengthening its military and nuclear infrastructure by concreting and covering sensitive facilities with soil, burying tunnel entrances at one of the nuclear complexes, and rebuilding damaged missile bases”

DW

The BBC said experts believe the underground complex near the Natanz site is an expanded section of Iran's nuclear infrastructure established in recent years, while Iranian authorities have not yet officially commented on the exact function of these tunnels.

BBC Persian quoted Sina Asadi, director of the Middle East Studies program at George Washington University, saying Iran “acts on the assumption that attacks will occur, and therefore must protect its facilities as much as possible.”

The BBC also reported that Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, said reaching a new nuclear agreement between Iran and the United States is possible and urgently needed, adding: “My impression, given the discussions I have had with all involved parties, is that we have a window of opportunity, but windows of opportunity tend to close suddenly and quickly, so I think we should seize this opportunity.”

In parallel, Reuters-based assessments cited by DW said Iran has been reconfiguring and strengthening its military and nuclear infrastructure by concreting and covering sensitive facilities with soil and burying tunnel entrances at one of the nuclear complexes while the US government threatens that if talks fail it will keep the option of a military strike on the table.