Satellites Reveal Construction Workshops: Iran Accelerates Rehabilitation of Missile Sites (Photos)

Satellite images have revealed that Iran is undertaking major new construction work near at least two key missile sites, repairing bases damaged by US and Israeli airstrikes earlier this year, according to an analysis published by the BBC.

Analysts at British intelligence firm MAIAR, who reviewed the images for the BBC's verification team, said evidence of excavation and new buildings appears in satellite photos taken in November at the Garmdareh military base in Karaj, near the capital Tehran, and the Shahroud base in the north.

The analysis noted that at least 12 other military sites, including missile complexes and airbases, show signs of restoration work.

The analysis added that new roofs were built on destroyed structures at the Kermanshah missile base in western Iran, near the border with Iraq, while damaged buildings and debris were removed from the Parchin military complex—which has been repeatedly restored despite a series of targeted airstrikes.

Images showed new construction and excavation outside tunnel entrances near the underground Fordow uranium enrichment facility, which has been bombed multiple times by the United States and Israel.

Underground Facilities
Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst specializing in Iranian affairs, said excavations near Shahroud could be linked to missile production.

He added that the repeated targeting of the nearby Shahroud airbase in recent years likely pushes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to attempt moving its production facilities underground.

Mark Milt, an analyst at the Defense Research Institute and former Chief of Staff of the Irish Army, said Iran has a pattern of relocating infrastructure underground to protect it from further strikes.

He added that building underground facilities has the additional benefit of making it "difficult for external observers to assess their extent and operational status."

In multiple bases across the country, Iranian forces have focused on small-scale repairs to complexes severely damaged by airstrikes since the start of the US-Israeli conflict.

Taleqan 2 Facility

Analysts said satellite images appear to show the completion of major construction work at the Taleqan 2 facility within the Parchin military complex, where damaged buildings were leveled, attack impacts on an underground shelter were repaired, and reinforced with concrete.

Sam Leer, an analyst at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), said images in Karaj show a new entrance to an underground facility. Analyses by Jane's also indicated a new facility under construction, including tunnel entrances and structures that may suggest the expansion of damaged or destroyed nearby missile bases, or potentially serve storage or other purposes.

Sean O'Connor, an analyst at Jane's, said the construction work is unlikely to be part of an attempt to deceive foreign intelligence agencies, as such a project would be costly and yield limited results.

Weakening Iranian Capabilities
These developments follow repeated White House assertions that US and Israeli attacks weakened the Iranian armed forces, a situation described by US President Donald Trump as "complete and total chaos."

The Pentagon previously announced that the United States had destroyed up to 90% of Iran's industrial base for drones, ballistic missiles, and naval assets, significantly weakening the country's ability to launch drone and missile attacks.

Footage broadcast by state television this week claimed to show dozens of missiles at the entrance to an underground facility in southern Iran. In August, other footage aired by state TV claimed to show Khordad surface-to-air missiles emerging from a tunnel, in an attempt by Iran to substantiate claims of possessing large missile stockpiles.