Satellite Images Reveal Israeli Attack on Iranian Missile Development Facility

Images released by ImageSat International of a missile production facility near Tehran.
Images released by ImageSat International of a missile production facility near Tehran.
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Satellite Images Reveal Israeli Attack on Iranian Missile Development Facility

Images released by ImageSat International of a missile production facility near Tehran.
Images released by ImageSat International of a missile production facility near Tehran.

A private Israeli intelligence company released on Friday satellite images of an Iranian missile development facility outside of Tehran, showing the damage caused by a purported explosion late last month.

As seen in the satellite pictures, at least a quarter of the building, claimed to be a “secret missile base” belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), was entirely demolished, with more damage seen on the roof of the entire structure on Monday shortly after the incident.

ImageSat International, a satellite image analysis company, released the photos and identified the Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group as the targeted location.

According to reports, at least two IRGC members were killed as a result of the blast at the facility.

“On Sunday evening a fire broke out in one of the IRGC … research centers west of Tehran. Three people were injured and the fire has been contained,” Iran’s state TV announced.

An IRGC official statement called the complex a “research self-sufficiency center”. Some analysts speculated this could refer to a branch of the IRGC Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization, which plays a role in Iran’s weapons development.

The Organization, which reportedly runs the damaged facility, was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2017 for its efforts in researching and developing ballistic missiles.

Since July 2020, a succession of suspicious fires and explosions have occurred at Iran’s nuclear, military, and industrial sites.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said the “war has already begun” with Israel.

Khatibzadeh alleged that Israel “has murdered nuclear scientists and harmed the Iranian people,” reported Israel’s Maariv.

“Iran is blamed for terrorism, but there is no good or bad terrorist. The entire crisis in the region is Israel’s fault,” he stressed.

He also accused Israel of doing “everything” in an attempt to foil the nuclear talks with the UN in Vienna and to drive a wedge between Iran and world powers.

“Israel has severely harmed our civilians and research system,” Khatibzadeh stated.

“They speak about the Iranian nuclear threat, but Israel has hundreds of bombs, and it never signed the non-proliferation treaty for nuclear weapons.”



US Issues New Sanctions Targeting Chinese Importers of Iranian Oil

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of Donald Trump and the US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of Donald Trump and the US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TT
20

US Issues New Sanctions Targeting Chinese Importers of Iranian Oil

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of Donald Trump and the US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed miniature model of Donald Trump and the US and Iran flags are seen in this illustration taken January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The United States on Wednesday issued new sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports, including against a China-based "teapot refinery", as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to ramp up pressure on Tehran.
The US Treasury Department said in a statement the action would increase pressure on Chinese importers of Iranian oil as Trump seeks to restore his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero, Reuters reported.
The action comes as the Trump administration has relaunched negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program this month, with talks in Oman last weekend and a second round expected in Rome this weekend.
The Treasury on Wednesday said it imposed sanctions on a China-based independent "teapot" refinery it accused of playing a role in purchasing more than $1 billion worth of Iranian crude oil.
Washington also issued additional sanctions on several companies and vessels it said were responsible for facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China as part of Iran's "shadow fleet".
Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York and China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
China does not recognize US sanctions and is the largest importer of Iranian oil. China and Iran have built a trading system that uses mostly Chinese yuan and a network of middlemen, avoiding the dollar and exposure to US regulators.
"Any refinery, company, or broker that chooses to purchase Iranian oil or facilitate Iran’s oil trade places itself at serious risk," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement.

"The United States is committed to disrupting all actors providing support to Iran’s oil supply chain, which the regime uses to support its terrorist proxies and partners."
The Treasury on Wednesday also updated guidance for shipping and maritime stakeholders on "detecting and mitigating Iranian oil sanctions evasion," warning, among other things, that Iran depends on a vast shadow fleet to disguise oil shipments.
The Treasury said it was the sixth round of sanctions targeting Iranian oil sales since Trump restored his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, which includes efforts to drive its oil exports down to zero in order to help prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's uranium enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions.
Since then, Iran has far surpassed that deal's limits on uranium enrichment.
Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian power purposes.
"All sanctions will be fully enforced under the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a separate statement on Wednesday.
"As long as Iran attempts to generate oil revenues to fund its destabilizing activities, the United States will hold both Iran and all its partners in sanctions evasion accountable."