Satellite images reveal construction near Iranian missile bases

Satellite images showed indications of extensive construction work near two major missile bases in Iran, and the repair of military sites damaged by American and Israeli strikes in the war on Tehran, according to an analysis published by the verification team at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Analysts at the British intelligence company Mayar said that photos taken in November showed excavation work and new buildings at the Ghoram Dara base in the city of Karaj, near Tehran, and the Shahroud base in the north of the country.

Indications of repairs were observed at at least 12 other military sites, including the erection of new roofs for destroyed buildings at the Kermanshah missile base, and the removal of rubble at the Parchin military complex.

Underground facilities

Jim Lamson, a former analyst at the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), suggested that the excavations near Shahrud are linked to missile production, indicating the possibility that the Revolutionary Guard may seek to move the production facilities underground to protect them.

Researcher Sam Lear, of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said that the images of Karaj appear to show “a new entrance to an underground facility.” Excavations were also observed outside the entrances to tunnels near Qom, close to the Fordow nuclear facility.

Ready for new attacks

The actions come after Washington confirmed that the strikes severely weakened Iran's military capabilities. On the other hand, Tehran says it maintains large missile stocks, and its state television broadcast scenes that it said showed dozens of missiles at the entrance to an underground facility.

Mark Cancian, a military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, considered that these activities indicate Iran's readiness for additional attacks, and its prioritization of rebuilding its military capabilities at the expense of reviving the economy.

The Turkish authorities arrested a former minister who is also vice-president of the ruling Justice and Development Party, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, against the backdrop of her alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scandal involving a number of investment funds, according to what was reported by the Associated Press.

Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya resigned from her position as Vice President of the Justice and Development Party last September, shortly after allegations emerged that she had sold shares worth tens of millions of dollars ahead of the regulatory bodies’ decision to liquidate those investment funds due to suspicions of manipulation.

The official Anadolu Agency reported that Kaya, who held the Family and Social Affairs portfolio between 2016 and 2018, was placed in detention late on Thursday, awaiting a possible trial on charges that include belonging to a criminal organization and violating the Turkish financial markets law.

As for her husband, he was released on the condition that he appear regularly before the police, following a second round of interrogation to which the couple underwent.

Turkey's main opposition party accused Kaya of obtaining 2.17 billion Turkish liras ($43 million), after she reportedly invested 163 million liras ($3 million) in one of those funds.

For their part, the couple denied any wrongdoing, but they transferred part of the profits to an account designated by banking regulatory authorities, according to media reports.

In a related context, the Turkish Minister of Justice, Akin Gorlik, stated this week that more than 430 people are under investigation on suspicion of involvement in market manipulation and exploitation of inside information, noting that 112 of them have already been arrested as part of this scandal.

Regional contacts intensified yesterday (Thursday) to curb the return of war between the United States and Iran, amid anticipation in Tehran for the decision of US President Donald Trump after the Republicans lost the congressional elections, and Iranian warnings of Washington’s readiness to resume strikes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held contacts with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Turkey and Jordan. Araghchi discussed with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan regional developments and efforts made to enhance the security and stability of the region.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf accused Trump of preparing for “the next phase of the war,” and said that the United States stands “on the brink of the abyss” under the slogan “Israel first.” Qalibaf addressed US Vice President J.D. Vance, who held the war responsible for the defeat of the Republicans, saying: “Why don’t you say that to your president?”

In Moscow, Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, delivered Russian President Vladimir Putin an urgent message from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the contents of which were not revealed. Rezaei said that Putin expressed his willingness to provide “any assistance” to end the war, and they discussed the post-war phase and “security arrangements in the region.”

The New York Times reported that Iran is studying “concrete proposals” presented by mediators regarding its nuclear program, noting that Rezaei expressed in the unannounced talks an openness to discussing the file, despite his stated conditions. She added that the dispute continues over the stock of highly enriched uranium, and that the American and Israeli armies have prepared plans for a “short and intense” operation that may target energy facilities and nuclear sites.