Fortress Isfahan: Satellite Images Reveal Iran Sealing Nuclear Tunnels Amid Commando Raid Fears
Satellite images reveal Iran burying tunnel portals at the high-security Isfahan facility, a strategic move experts say is designed to thwart potential commando raids and bunker-buster strikes.
New high-resolution satellite images captured on Monday reveal unusual defensive measures at Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan, one of the Islamic Republic’s most sensitive and fortified sites. The images, analyzed by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), show that the three primary tunnel entrances leading to the underground complex have been systematically covered and camouflaged with large mounds of earth.
According to the report, the move appears designed to obscure the entrances from aerial surveillance and, more importantly, to physically block access to the subterranean levels.
Preventing a Ground Raid
The decision to seal these entrances suggests a shift in Iranian defensive doctrine. While the site has been targeted by airstrikes during the recent "12-Day War," experts believe these new measures are specifically aimed at preventing special forces operations.
"The filling of tunnel entrances reduces the impact of an aerial strike, but its primary function is to complicate a ground breach," the ISIS report noted. Tehran reportedly fears a commando raid aimed at seizing or destroying stockpiles of enriched uranium believed to be stored deep within the mountain.
Diplomatic High Stakes: Netanyahu Heads to Washington
The revelation comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departs today for Washington D.C. for a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump, scheduled for Wednesday morning at the White House.
While the two leaders share a long history, Jerusalem is reportedly growing anxious over the possibility of a new nuclear deal. Sources in Israel fear that President Trump may pursue a "thin" or "airy" agreement, one that addresses the nuclear program on paper but lacks the rigorous, "anytime, anywhere" inspections required by the IAEA.
The "Agreement Trap"
Senior Israeli officials expressed concern that a diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran could "lock" Israel’s hands, making it diplomatically impossible to strike Iranian facilities even if the threat continues to grow.
"There is a real fear that we are heading toward a deal that isn't good for us," a senior official stated. "With players like Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt all influencing the administration, Israel is concerned that its security red lines may be sidelined in favor of a quick diplomatic win."