Iran appears to be racing against time to protect its most critical nuclear infrastructure at Natanz Nuclear Facility in anticipation of possible U.S. or Israeli airstrikes. High-resolution satellite imagery shows Tehran covering damaged structures, erecting new roofs, and sealing tunnels at both Natanz and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, moves analysts interpret as efforts either to shield remaining assets or to obscure what remains beneath the rubble from foreign surveillance. These steps come amid ongoing tensions between Washington, Tehran, and Jerusalem, as diplomatic talks proceed but military options remain on the table.

The modern Natanz complex suffered extensive bombardment in June 2025 when U.S. and Israeli forces struck Iran’s nuclear sites, targeting enrichment halls and infrastructure to degrade Tehran’s ability to produce weapons-usable material. Satellite assessments suggest that Iran has begun building protective coverings over structures that were damaged and digging deeper at nearby underground sites—potentially expanding hardened facilities like the one at Pickaxe Mountain—to make the installation more resistant to precision strikes. This activity reflects Iran’s dual strategy of hardening its remaining nuclear capabilities while seeking to limit external insight into what survives and what might be rebuilt.

SOURCE: JP