Known for its palaces, tiled mosques and minarets, Iran’s third-biggest city is also home to missile factories. And it’s been the site of military strikes before. Tensions remain high across the Middle East as Israel wages war against Hamas, an arch-rival of Iran. Several Iranian air defence batteries fired early Friday morning, as explosions were heard in Isfahan.
1. Natanz
Located outside of Tehran, Natanz is Iran’s primary nuclear facility. It is primarily responsible for enriching uranium to levels that can be used in nuclear weapons, but it has been subjected to multiple acts of sabotage. In 2021, an Israeli strike blew up a building at Natanz and damaged some centrifuges. It also led to Iran starting construction on a new underground بهترین سایت انفجار ایرانی designed to house the more advanced IR-8 centrifuges, which can enrich uranium closer to weapons-grade level than older models.
The US and Israel have a clear interest in disrupting the facility. In 2009, they joined forces to use a computer virus called Stuxnet to destroy a large number of the facility’s centrifuges. When a fire and explosion struck a warehouse at Natanz earlier this month, many Iranians immediately suspected covert operations by Israel. And while the government insists that the cause was an accident, it hasn’t been able to offer any evidence.
2. Parchin
The Parchin military site has once again jumped to center stage in Iran’s nuclear crisis. New satellite images show vehicles and container-like objects moving near a building where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suspects Iran conducted past nuclear weapons-related tests.
The Defense Ministry said an “industrial accident” killed engineer Ehsan Ghadbeigi and injured another employee on Wednesday in one of its research centers at the complex. Iran’s state-run Fars news agency says investigations into the incident are underway.
Parchin is home to a military base where the IAEA has suspected Iran conducted high-explosive tests related to nuclear bombs. It also houses missile production facilities, and is linked to the Khojir nuclear reactor complex. Iran has denied seeking nuclear weapons, but Western concerns led to the 2015 nuclear deal that capped Tehran’s uranium enrichment activities.
3. Khojir
Khojir is home to a variety of wildlife, including mammals and birds. It is part of the Jajrud protected area and is Iran’s oldest no-hunting zone.
The explosion at a missile production facility east of Tehran sparked fears of an exchange of fire between Iran and its sworn enemies. But experts say the blast will not significantly curtail Tehran’s missile capabilities, which are already among the largest in the Middle East.
Whether by accident or sabotage, the incident shows that Iran’s military complex is vulnerable to attack, according to Ronen Solomon, who runs the intelligence blog IntelliTimes. The explosion did little damage and caused no injuries, but it could raise the possibility of more such attacks against its sensitive sites, he says.
Satellite images show that Iran is expanding its facilities at the Modarres and Khojir bases, where missiles are built. Many of the new structures are surrounded by large dirt berms, a design characteristic of missile production. These earthworks are designed to contain the blasts and prevent them from affecting buildings housing combustible materials.
4. Isfahan
A series of explosions ripped through a central Iranian city and sent plumes of smoke into the sky after overnight strikes. Officials said the targets included a weapons factory for Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The facility is believed to be responsible for producing a variety of drones and other military hardware used across the Middle East, including the IRGC’s own drones. It is also known to be a test site for rockets and other weaponry.
The blasts triggered air defence systems near Isfahan, prompting the military to close off regional flights for a short time. But Tehran officials and state media played down the incident, which came days after Iran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on Israel.
Brigadier General Siavash Mihandoust, a top Isfahan military official, told state TV that air defence batteries fired at a “suspicious object” that was in the area and that there had been no damage or casualties. His comments followed a report by US broadcasters that an Israeli missile strike struck near Isfahan, which is home to a large military air base and nuclear facilities.
What’s Next?
The sound of explosions could be heard near a major air base in Iran. IRNA, the state news agency, said air defence batteries fired early Friday. The area is home to Iranian military and nuclear sites, including the desert facility where assembly work on centrifuges is done. Several mysterious blazes have occurred in recent weeks, leading to speculation of sabotage by ‘foreign hands’.
