Israeli Media: New Satellite Images Show Activity at Fordow Site

Israeli media reported on Thursday evening that new satellite images from the Fordow nuclear site indicate recent activities, including changes in its structure. According to Israeli media, these images were captured by the Israeli satellite company ImageSat using the 'Eros B' satellite. The website Wynet and Channel 10 of Israeli television, based on analysis from satellite experts, described the new activities at the Fordow site as 'unusual' and part of potential Iranian actions to resume activities at the site if it withdraws from the JCPOA. One significant change in these images is the opening of a pathway from the site gate to the tunnels housing uranium-enriching centrifuges. New structures are also visible in the latest images compared to a few months ago, which Israeli media reports suggest may have been built to expand research facilities. The latest images taken from the Fordow site on April 28 show a large number of parked buses and vehicles, indicating increased traffic, whereas satellite imagery from the time after the JCPOA until two months ago showed the area devoid of such activity. Iran acknowledged the existence of the Fordow site in 2009, where uranium enrichment tunnels were excavated 90 meters deep into rock, located 25 kilometers from the Qom-Tehran road. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran initially enriched uranium at Fordow to 20% and at one point increased it to 27%. According to the Lausanne Agreement, which preceded the JCPOA, the Fordow facility was to be limited to scientific and research activities, with no uranium enrichment allowed. Iran has not responded to Israeli media reports regarding the new activities at Fordow, and the IAEA has also not commented on the matter. Meanwhile, Israeli media emphasized that it is unclear whether the new activities and changes at Fordow violate Iran's commitments under the JCPOA. The images from ImageSat were released three days after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's press conference regarding the initial nature of Iran's military nuclear program. Netanyahu stated that the documents obtained by Israel conclusively prove that Iranian leaders have 'shamelessly' lied over the years about not pursuing nuclear weapons, and that the JCPOA was based on these lies. Netanyahu claimed that Israel achieved an unprecedented intelligence success in retrieving these documents, which weigh over half a ton and include more than 100,000 pages and 183 compact discs, from Iran weeks ago. Meanwhile, Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, emphasized in an interview with Tel Aviv Hebrew radio that Netanyahu coordinated with U.S. President Donald Trump in revealing the documents obtained by Israel. According to Shapiro, Netanyahu's press conference was held to bolster Trump's decision regarding the JCPOA, a decision expected to be announced on May 11. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized in Tehran that the JCPOA will not change, that no further negotiations will take place regarding it, and that Iran considers 'any reaction its right.' Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Iranian leader, also stated that if the U.S. withdraws from the JCPOA, Iran will exit as well. Additionally, Hamid Baidi Nejad, Iran's ambassador to the UK, stressed that with the U.S. exiting the JCPOA, 'there will be no agreement left.' The head of the Munich Security Conference tweeted that if Trump's decision is to withdraw from the JCPOA, a situation will arise that requires EU leaders to hold an emergency meeting to address its implications. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that canceling the JCPOA increases the risk of war. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for a complementary agreement with Iran, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke about the necessity of curbing Iran's influence in Syria and reducing the range of Iran's ballistic missiles. In this context, Israeli officials supported a vote this week in the Knesset to grant the prime minister the authority to declare war. Ayelet Shaked, Israel's Minister of Justice, stated that under new security conditions, the prime minister should have the right to make urgent decisions without delay. The Israeli parliament voted early Tuesday morning, just hours after Netanyahu's press conference regarding the JCPOA, to grant the prime minister the authority to declare war against an enemy, with the only official he must consult being the defense minister. This is the first time in Israel's history that this right is granted solely to the prime minister and defense minister, whereas previously such decisions had to be approved by the security-political cabinet, including ministers of key positions, and then ratified by the Knesset's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. However, Netanyahu argued that circumstances could arise where there would not be an opportunity for consultations and votes in the traditional manner, securing the majority of his supporters in the Knesset for the authority to declare war.