Denial of New Nuclear Facilities in Zagros; Eslami: It's Psychological Operations and Nonsense

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization dismissed the existence of plans and underground nuclear facilities in the Zagros Mountains, which an American company reported on its drilling activities, calling it 'psychological operations.' Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization, reacted on Wednesday, June 3, to the release of satellite data from the American company 'Planet Labs PBC' regarding new drilling in Iran aimed at 'establishing underground nuclear facilities in the Zagros Mountains,' attributing the original news to Israel and labeling it 'nonsense,' 'hysteria,' and 'psychological operations.' According to the Fars news agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, Eslami claimed that whenever 'conditions in the region and their environment become tight and difficult,' the Israelis 'intensify these psychological operations more and more.' On Monday, June 1, the Associated Press reported, citing satellite images from 'Planet Labs PBC,' that the Islamic Republic has been digging very deep tunnels in the Zagros Mountains near the Natanz nuclear facility since 2020. The report indicated that these excavations are related to Iran's nuclear program and are at a depth that is safe from even the most advanced American bunker-busting bombs. Experts say the latest American bombs can penetrate up to 60 meters underground, while the volume of excavations indicates that the Islamic Republic is digging at depths of 80 to 100 meters for its nuclear program. Zahi Hanegbi, Israel's National Security Advisor, stated on Tuesday, June 2, that the new nuclear base under construction in Iran will not be immune to attack. According to the Associated Press, Hanegbi, speaking at a security conference near Tel Aviv, said he was not surprised by the news, adding that although the location of the mentioned facilities poses challenges for military attacks, there are solutions to overcome it and 'no place is inaccessible.' The report noted that the Israeli National Security Advisor did not specify whether his country has the capability to carry out such an operation alone, but emphasized, 'We hope we do not reach a point regarding Iran's nuclear weapons where we have to resort to military action as a solution.' Shahid Shahidpour recently told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic's move towards building a nuclear bomb is 'gambling' and 'economic suicide,' and its consequences will be continuous pressure on Iran, even if military conflict does not occur.