Iran has begun barricading the entrances to the Isfahan underground nuclear facility in an attempt to prevent the potential seizure of Iran’s enriched uranium, according to a report released by the Institute for Science and International Security on Thursday.
The institute analyzed high-resolution satellite imagery captured on Wednesday that shows relatively newly constructed makeshift roadblocks consisting of earthen berms, piles of rubble, and what appeared to be fencing outside all three entrances to the facility.
The roadblocks were created on or after March 18, the institute noted, as no such roadblocks were observed in imagery captured on that date.
The tunnel entrances, which lead to an underground facility suspected to hold the majority of Iran’s enriched uranium, have been filled and covered with dirt, and no apparent effort has been made to restore access to them.
All entrances to Isfahan obstructed by blockades
The institute stated that the road leading to the southernmost entrance of the Isfahan facility was obstructed by two possible roadblocks: one made of unidentified material and the other a two-meter-wide pile of dirt. Two parked cars were spotted on that road, indicating ongoing security monitoring.
The center tunnel entrance and an adjacent structure, which the institute assumes is a utility alcove, have been the most heavily fortified.
One dirt barricade was completed, and another is under construction on the road to the entrance. Three smaller barricades were also identified near what appeared to be a pre-existing security checkpoint.
A barricade blocking the entrance to the mostly buried utility alcove was identified in the satellite imagery. The entire area appeared to have been fenced off, and a piece of machinery, potentially used to move dirt, was spotted near the entrance.
The primary road leading to the northernmost entrance has been blocked by a large pile of dirt, with two more roadblocks made of dirt and rubble closing off an adjacent bypass road. Preexisting fence gates near the entrance are all closed.
The institute posited that the creation of the roadblocks may be intended to slow movement around Isfahan’s entrances and make a potential ground invasion or seizure of enriched uranium more complex.
They also noted that while it would be possible to remove the dirt and rubble piles with appropriate equipment, doing so would significantly increase the time required to access the facility.