Satellite images analyzed by Sky News show Iran has fortified its nuclear and defense facilities, alongside conducting live drills with Russian forces amid rising tensions with the U.S. military.
Iran appears to be strengthening defenses at its nuclear plants and military sites following strikes in June 2025 that damaged infrastructure at three key locations: Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, Natanz enrichment facility, and Isfahan Nuclear Fuel Complex. While core enrichment activity remains constrained and under international scrutiny, satellite imagery from December 2025 to January 2026 indicates structural repair and new efforts to bury tunnel entrances at the Isfahan Complex. Experts suggest these actions are preparations for a potential attack, aiming to minimize vulnerabilities.
At the Natanz nuclear facility, satellite images point to construction at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. A new site, Pickaxe Mountain, also shows construction and hardening of tunnel shafts. Experts note these steps are aimed at strengthening tunnel entrances, a major vulnerability for underground facilities.
Other key military sites are also undergoing repair and fortification. The Parchin military complex, a sensitive site where nuclear bomb detonation tests were reportedly conducted, has been covered in concrete. Analysis points to the construction of a "concrete sarcophagus" around a newly built facility, with reports of a large, cylindrical chamber resembling a high-explosives containment vessel.
On January 19, Russian and Iranian forces conducted joint live drills in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean, aimed at upgrading operational coordination. These drills, launched from strategic locations controlling the Strait of Hormuz, highlight Iran's military readiness and influence over vital shipping routes. The drills mirror recent Iranian exercises involving naval and live-fire operations, including missile launches, across key shipping lanes.
Iran's naval assets, including the drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri, have been tracked off the coast of Bandar Abbas, a key location in the Strait of Hormuz. This ship can deploy approximately 60 drones and helicopters, posing a significant threat to shipping. These movements and exercises are seen as reinforcing Iran's aggressive rhetoric and posture toward the United States.