Satellite Imagery Uncovers Suspicious Activity at Iran's Damaged Nuclear Facilities
New satellite images have revealed concerning developments at two major Iranian nuclear facilities that were bombed last year by Israel and the United States. The imagery shows fresh construction activity that analysts believe may represent Tehran's attempts to conceal efforts to recover sensitive nuclear materials from the damaged sites.
New Roofs Obscure Ground-Level Activities at Critical Sites
Images captured by Planet Labs PBC clearly show new roofs being constructed over damaged buildings at both the Isfahan and Natanz nuclear complexes. This marks the first significant visible activity observed at Iran's stricken nuclear facilities since Israel's 12-day conflict with Iran in June 2024, according to Associated Press reports.
These newly installed coverings effectively prevent satellites from monitoring ground-level activities, which currently represents the only available monitoring method for the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran has consistently barred IAEA inspectors from accessing these sensitive sites since the attacks occurred.
Iranian authorities have not publicly commented on this construction activity, while the IAEA, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, has declined to respond to requests for comment regarding these developments.
Expert Analysis: Concealment Rather Than Reconstruction
Analysts who have carefully reviewed the satellite imagery suggest these structures do not appear to signal genuine reconstruction of the heavily damaged facilities. Instead, they likely represent deliberate attempts to shield recovery operations from external scrutiny and observation.
"They want to be able to get at any recovered assets they can get to without Israel or the United States seeing what survived," explained Andrea Stricker, an Iran analyst at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, an organization that has been sanctioned by Tehran.
Stricker emphasized that this work likely reflects Iranian attempts to determine whether "key assets — such as limited stocks of highly enriched uranium — survived the strikes."
Sarah Burkhard, a senior research associate at the Institute for Science and International Security, reportedly echoed this assessment, stating that "The roofs appear to be part of an operation to recover any sort of remaining assets or rubble without letting us know what they are getting out of there."
Sean O'Connor, an analyst with open-source intelligence firm Janes, further clarified that "the goal was likely to obscure activity rather than to, say, repair or rebuild a structure for use."
Strategic Importance of Isfahan and Natanz Facilities
Before Israel launched its June offensive, Iran operated three major nuclear sites that formed the core of its nuclear program. While Tehran consistently insists its nuclear activities remain peaceful, Iranian officials have increasingly threatened in recent years to pursue nuclear weapons development.
The Natanz facility, located approximately 220 kilometers south of Tehran, housed the majority of Iran's uranium enrichment operations. This included advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium up to 60% purity — representing just a short technical step from achieving weapons-grade levels.
The Isfahan site primarily functioned to produce uranium gas that would be fed into centrifuges for enrichment processes. A third critical site, Fordo, located beneath a mountain southwest of Tehran, contained a hardened enrichment facility designed to withstand potential attacks.
During the 2024 conflict, Israel struck these nuclear sites first, followed by coordinated U.S. attacks utilizing bunker-busting bombs and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The White House later stated these strikes "significantly degraded Iran's nuclear program," though specific operational details remain classified.
Detailed Construction Timeline and Observations
Satellite imagery analysis reveals that Iran began constructing a roof over Natanz's Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant in December 2024, completing the structure by month's end. Israel had struck this building on June 13, leaving it "functionally destroyed" according to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, with underground centrifuge halls suffering "seriously damaged" as well.
A subsequent U.S. follow-up strike on June 22 specifically targeted Natanz's underground facilities using specialized bunker-busting bombs designed to penetrate hardened structures.
At the Isfahan facility, imagery shows a similar roof completed in early January 2025 over a structure near the facility's northeast corner. While the specific function of this building remains publicly unknown, Israel previously stated its strikes there targeted centrifuge manufacturing facilities. The Israeli military has declined to comment on this new construction activity.
Additional imagery reveals tunnels near Isfahan packed with dirt — a defensive measure Iran implemented ahead of the June war — while another tunnel appears to have been cleared and reinforced with new walls.
Broader Military Rebuilding Efforts Underway
Satellite imagery indicates Iran is simultaneously working to rebuild portions of its ballistic missile and military research infrastructure, according to reports.
At the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran, Iran is actively rebuilding a site known as "Taleghan 2," which Israel destroyed in an October 2024 airstrike, as previously reported by the Associated Press.
The Institute for Science and International Security has confirmed this facility previously housed an explosive chamber and specialized X-ray equipment used in tests relevant to nuclear weapon development.
"This has been reconstituted very rapidly," noted Lewis Smart, an analyst at Janes. "It's being expanded to potentially make it more resistant to penetration attacks and bombings."
Satellite images clearly show a large containment vessel being installed at this site, which experts suggest could be utilized for high-explosive testing relevant to nuclear weapons development programs.
