Iran has significantly accelerated the construction of a fortified underground facility near its nuclear complex in Natanz. Satellite imagery analysis indicates that Tehran has not halted its nuclear program and is likely resuming it while simultaneously reinforcing key sites to shield them from potential airstrikes, reports the Baltimore Chronicle citing The Washington Post.
According to the imagery, construction is underway at a site located in the Zagros mountain range, about 1.5 kilometers south of the Natanz nuclear complex, which came under Israeli and U.S. airstrikes in June. The exact purpose of the underground facility remains unclear. Inspectors from the IAEA have never visited the site, and the agency’s Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that Iran rejected his inquiries regarding this location.
Analysts estimate that the underground halls at the so-called Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, also known as “Kirka Mountain,” could be situated as deep as 100 meters underground, making them more fortified than the Fordow facility. While Iran announced in 2020 that the site would host a centrifuge production plant, the size and depth of the tunnels have raised suspicions among experts. They suggest the facility may be intended for secret uranium enrichment or as a secure storage site for uranium stockpiles close to weapons-grade purity.
Three nuclear experts who reviewed the satellite images identified several signs of intensified activity: the construction of a 1,200-meter-long protective wall with a new road running along it since late June, reinforcement of the tunnel entrance structures, and an increase in excavated rock volumes.
Joseph Rogers, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the presence of dump trucks, trailers, and other heavy machinery demonstrates the continuation and expansion of underground construction.
A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the U.S. administration will continue monitoring Iran’s attempts to revive its nuclear program. The official recalled that President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that Iran will never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
According to IAEA reports, by the time Israeli strikes began on June 13, Iran had stockpiled nearly 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity — just one step away from the 90% enrichment required for nuclear weapons. The current location of these reserves remains unknown.
Earlier we wrote that India demands U.S. permission for Iran and Venezuela oil to reduce Russian imports.
