Iran Builds Roofs Over Damaged Nuclear Sites at Natanz, Isfahan

Satellite imagery has revealed recent construction of large roofs over damaged buildings at two key Iranian nuclear facilities, Natanz and Isfahan, months after strikes by Israel and the United States severely impaired the sites in June 2025. The activity, first visible in December at Natanz and early January at Isfahan, appears aimed at shielding ground-level operations from international observation, according to experts analyzing the images.

The coverings completely obscure satellite views of the interiors, where Iran is likely assessing and recovering surviving assets from the attacks. Since the strikes, Iran has barred inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from accessing the facilities, making remote imagery the primary tool for global monitoring of its nuclear activities. Andrea Stricker, an expert on Iran at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that the structures allow officials to "get at any recovered assets they can get to without Israel or the United States seeing what survived." These assets may include limited stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, essential for potential weapons development.

The Natanz complex, located about 135 miles...