Iran appears to be undertaking significant new construction near at least two of its major missile sites and repairing bases damaged by months of US and Israeli air strikes, according to the BBC. Evidence of digging and new buildings is visible in satellite imagery from November at the Garmdareh military base in Karaj near Tehran and at the Shahroud base in the north, analysts at British intelligence company MAIAR told BBC Verify.
At least 12 other military sites, including missile complexes and air bases, appear to show repairs. New roofs have been built on destroyed buildings at the Kermanshah missile base in western Iran, while damaged buildings and debris have been cleared at the Parchin military complex east of the capital.
The excavations near Shahroud could be related to missile production, said Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst focused on Iran. He said that because the nearby air base has been targeted multiple times, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is probably trying to move its production facilities underground. A MAIAR analyst said Iran has "a pattern of moving infrastructure underground to protect them from further strikes."
Speculation has mounted that the US could resume attacks on Iran after this week's midterm elections. The Pentagon has said the US destroyed up to 90% of Iran's drone, ballistic missile and naval industrial base, while Iran claims large stockpiles. Mark Cancian, a military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the activity showed Tehran was bracing for more attacks: "The purpose is to better defend itself against future attacks."