Iran rebuilding missile sites, moving military infrastructure underground to evade strikes

Iran is rapidly rebuilding its military infrastructure damaged by months of US and Israeli airstrikes, with new satellite images showing construction and excavation work at several key missile bases, according to a report by the New York Post citing BBC Verify. The developments come amid renewed military tensions, with US President Donald Trump confirming fresh limited strikes on an Iranian air defence system.Satellite images taken in November show signs of construction and digging at two major Iranian military installations: the Garmdareh base in Karaj, near Tehran, and the Shahroud base in northern Iran. Analysts from British intelligence company MAIAR, who examined the images, told BBC Verify that at least 12 other military sites, including missile complexes and airbases, also showed signs of repairs and reconstruction.The images reportedly show significant excavation work at both bases, along with vehicles and improvements at the Karaj facility. Former CIA analyst and Iran expert Jim Lamson told BBC Verify that the digging near Shahroud could be linked to missile production. He suggested that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps may be attempting to relocate production facilities underground after repeated airstrikes on a nearby airbase.An MAIAR analyst told the outlet that Iran had demonstrated “a pattern of moving infrastructure underground to protect them from further strikes”. Defence analyst and former head of the Irish military Mark Mellett said underground facilities could make it harder for adversaries to establish the full extent of Iran's military capabilities.The rebuilding efforts come even as Washington continues to target Iranian military assets. Trump said on Friday that the US military had carried out limited strikes against an Iranian air defence system on Qeshm Island, describing the operation as “minor". “They knocked out -- they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five," he said.The strikes followed earlier US attacks on Iranian targets this week. US officials have previously assessed that Tehran would attempt to restore its air defence systems and other military infrastructure after much of its capabilities were destroyed or severely weakened during the June 2025 bombardment by Israel and the early stages of the current conflict.Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation are gathering pace, with Qatar presenting proposals aimed at bringing Washington and Tehran back to negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. However, Tehran has demanded several concessions, including an end to the US blockade, sanctions relief and compensation for war damage, before agreeing to talks.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.