Assessment of Blue Barrels Moved into Esfahan Mountain in Days Before June 2025 War
Le Monde brought to our attention a June 9, 2025, Airbus Pleiades Neo commercial satellite image taken just four days before the start of the June War, showing a large flatbed truck carrying 18 blue barrels or casks toward the southern tunnel entrance of the underground Esfahan facility. The truck is followed by a truck-mounted crane. Three vehicles accompany the trucks, which could be for security and nuclear personnel. Le Monde published a report on this image today and cites the observations we provided, “Revealed: Satellite image shows mysterious cargo at Iranian nuclear site in 2025” by Asia Balluffier. Our observations are described in full detail in this report.
Impact Site Identified Near the Iranian Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
Following a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran had notified it of a “projectile incident" in the vicinity of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the Institute acquired high resolution Airbus imagery taken on March 18, 2026, confirming a projectile impact crater 350 meters away from the power reactor. The IAEA provides no details about the "structure" that was "hit and destroyed," but satellite imagery taken a week before the strikes shows an unidentified object in an open field, measuring about 5 meters in length. No other damage can be seen anywhere else at the complex and the power reactor remains untouched.
Post-Attack Assessment of Precision Strikes on the Bunkered Taleghan 2 Facility
High resolution Vantor satellite imagery from March 11, 2026, shows that the bunkered facility known as Taleghan 2 was attacked. Imagery shows three large bunker buster penetration holes entering the top of the facility, directly into the area where a suspected high explosive containment vessel suitable for nuclear weapons development related testing was located. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it struck the facility, “a site used by the Iranian regime to advance nuclear weapons capabilities.”
Assessment of Alleged Alternate Tunnel Access at Esfahan, as Reported by the New York Times
Over the weekend, the New York Times reported on Iran’s access to 20 % and 60 % enriched uranium stocks inside the Esfahan tunnel complex, citing that, “officials familiar with the intelligence said that Iran can now get to the uranium through a very narrow access point.” The New York Times attached an annotated image to the report of a location near the three known Esfahan tunnel entrances, which were backfilled by Iran in the days before the February strikes. The coordinates for this location are 32.5874831, 51.7964410. It is not clear how the Times identified the alleged access point. Our assessment of the location in satellite imagery does not support it providing an underground connection to the tunnel complex that reportedly holds about half of the HEU in Iran's possession.
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IDF Strike on Alleged Fentanyl Production for Chemical Weapons R&D
Satellite imagery taken by Airbus yesterday confirms the strike and extensive damage inflicted on a building described by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF, see below) as producing fentanyl for SPND's research and development of pharmaceutical based agents.
Imagery Update: Damage Identified at the Natanz Nuclear Complex; Onsite Road Access Infrastructure Destroyed
Recent satellite imagery taken on March 27, 2026, shows damage to the Natanz Nuclear Complex.
Imagery Update: Damage Identified Near the Esfahan Nuclear Complex and Assessment of the Strike on Malek Ashtar University
Satellite imagery shows damage at a site near the Esfahan nuclear complex that occurred between February 28 and March 6 (32°34'3.07"N, 51°48'59.77"E). The site is likely involved in the defense of the Esfahan nuclear complex. High resolution satellite imagery taken by Airbus also confirms the strike reported by the IDF on a large building at Malek Ashtar University.
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