Unusual activity has been spotted in photos snapped on April 29 (Sunday) by ImageSat International (ISI) of Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear research site in Qom, Iran.
The photos were snapped by the Israeli EROS-B satellite, according to ISI, and were compared to prior images.
Has prepared a bargaining chip? Signs of activity in enrichment plant, . pic.twitter.com/ZcXIftuEaw
— imagesatintl (@imagesatint)
The current photos show an open entrance gate to the tunnels leading to the uranium enrichment facility, and some 30 cars and four buses parked outside. They also show progress having been made on certain structures under construction outside the facility which it is believed are intended for production, research and development.
Fordow has appeared for the past two years to be vacant, according to ImageSat International, which said there has been no detectable activity up to this point. But in his presentation of intelligence material smuggled out of Iran by the Mossad on Monday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that excavations are in fact continuing at the mountain under which the facility is located.
Fordow is supposed to be under the close supervision of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) along with other Iranian nuclear technology and production sites, per the JCPOA nuclear deal signed in July 2015 between Iran and six world powers. However, the agency clearly missed identifying the existence of the massive archive of secret documents hidden by Iran, detailing plans for a comprehensive nuclear arms program, revealed by Netanyahu.
In accordance with the JCPOA agreement, most of the uranium enrichment centrifuges at Fordow were allegedly dismantled and the facility was, according to the IAEA, converted to use for civilian purposes. However, as with the Iran’s deception over the existence of any nuclear weapons program or plans to create one, Netanyahu said in his presentation that construction continues at Fordow.