Taking A Peek at Iran's Nuclear Hubs From Space
Aerial images reveal the appearance of Iran's nuclear sites from the cosmos.
Get the lowdown on Iran's nuclear facilities with maps and satellite images. The ongoing tussle over Iran's nuclear program has now escalated to an open war between Israel and Iran involve air strikes on military facilities and nuclear sites.
So, where exactly are these nuclear hubs of Iran? Let's dive in!
The Natanz site is at the heart of Iran's uranium enrichment program. This complex, guarded by earthen walls, fences, and checkpoints, is nestled between mountains and outside the venerated Shia city of Qom. It lies roughly 230 kilometers south of Tehran and close to Iran Highway 7 towards Isfahan.
At Natanz, two enrichment plants can be found: the underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) and the aboveground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP). Here, Iran produces weapons-grade material from uranium. Traces of this complex have been around since 2002 when an Iranian opposition group claimed that Iran was secretly operating a uranium enrichment complex at this site, leading to a standoff between the West and Iran over its nuclear intentions.
Satellite images clearly show that the Natanz site is a facility of military importance. The site is surrounded by multiple fences and walls, laced with anti-aircraft positions, watchtowers, and a controlled strip securing the site against intruders. There are several tunnel entrances to the south, leading into the nearby mountains. According to intelligence agencies, the FEP facility can accommodate up to 50,000 centrifuges, with currently around 16,000 installed, of which about 13,000 are operational, enriching uranium to up to five percent purity.
A civilian use nuclear facility is the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant located on the Persian Gulf coast. Unlike unused research reactors at other sites, this plant serves primarily to generate electricity. While it has been operational since 2013, Israel's recent air strikes did not target this plant.
Another underground enrichment facility is Fordo, situated in the mountains north of the central Iranian city of Ghom. This secretive complex is believed to be better protected from potential bombings compared to Natanz. Constructed over the years, Fordo reportedly hosts around 2000 centrifuges, with most being modern IR-6 machines, enriching uranium to up to 60 percent.
Isfahan also houses a significant nuclear complex featuring a facility for producing fuel rods and a uranium conversion plant where uranium can be processed into uranium hexafluoride. Iran is said to store enriched uranium in Isfahan as well.
Lastly, the Arak Heavy Water Reactor poses a risk for nuclear weapons proliferation as it can produce plutonium. This incomplete reactor experienced explosions near the city of Arak, but the extent of the damage is unknown. As with the other facilities, exact details regarding the impact of Israel's air strikes on Arak Heavy Water Reactor remain unclear.
- The community policy of a city might include provisions for handling medical-conditions, ensuring a balanced lifestyle, and promoting education-and-self-development, while also considering general-news and entertainment, as well as the impact of technology on its residents.
- In the realm of employment policy, it's crucial to address finance, ensuring fair wages and benefits, while also catering to specific lifestyle choices and medical-conditions, fostering opportunities for advancement in fields such as science, technology, and entertainment.
- The ongoing conflict over Iran's nuclear program has led to various employment policies being debated within international communities, focusing on the science and technology sectors due to the complexity of the issue, while also considering the financial implications and potential risks to general-news or weather broadcasting.
- As industries evolve, it's essential for education-and-self-development policies to incorporate aspects of science, technology, and medicine, equipping students with the necessary skills to contribute to the advancement of fields such as nuclear technology and research, while also considering lifestyle choices and entertainment.
- The escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear program have led to increased scrutiny of their employment policies, particularly in sectors like science, technology, and military, as concerns regarding medical-conditions, finance, and potential labor unrest arise, with the entertainment and lifestyle industries also being affected by the general-news and sports narratives surrounding the conflict.
