Iran rebuilding underground nuclear-linked facility Taleghan 2, says watchdog

Iran is rapidly reconstructing a heavily fortified underground facility at the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran that has long been linked to past nuclear weapons research, according to new satellite imagery analyzed by a Washington-based nuclear watchdog.

Vantor Technologies imagery from September 13 shows extensive construction underway at the Taleghan 2 site, roughly 30 kilometers from the capital.

Iran has erected a large tarp over the destroyed hardened buried structure, obscuring activity from satellites and aerial reconnaissance, the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said in a report published Thursday.

“Significant activity can be seen throughout the construction site,” the institute reported.

“Construction vehicles, including dump trucks, bulldozers, concrete pump trucks and concrete mixers, and cranes, are actively working to rebuild the facility.”

Repair work began in June 2026 with concrete caps placed over penetration holes from previous strikes, and new blast-reinforcement concrete aprons have been added on both sides of the site to improve protection against aerial attack.

This marks the third reconstruction cycle at Taleghan 2.

‘Israel’ first struck the original building in October 2024. Iran rebuilt it starting in May 2025 as a hardened, buried facility that included what analysts believed may have been a high-explosive containment vessel.

‘Israeli’ forces attacked the site again in early March 2026 with multiple bunker-buster weapons, destroying the internal structure and collapsing surrounding buildings.

Western intelligence has long associated the Parchin complex with high-explosive testing relevant to nuclear detonations more than two decades ago as part of Iran’s alleged AMAD Plan nuclear weapons program.

The ‘Israeli’ military has described the site as one used in recent years “to develop advanced explosives” and advance nuclear weapons capabilities.

Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons.

“Significant questions remain as to Iran’s plans for the facility; not least is why Iran keeps rebuilding it,” the ISIS report stated.

“What is clear is that Iran remains committed to rebuilding this facility, a deeply concerning development considering the long history of nuclear weapons research and development activities that occurred there.”