Israel Matzav

Satellite images show no sign of emergency response at Fordow

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has published the satellite image above, which shows the Fordow uranium enrichment plant in Iran on January 22, 2013, the day after there was allegedly an explosion at the same plant. 

ISIS adds the following comments:

On January 25, 2013, news website WND published a report claiming that on January 21, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant near the Iranian city of Qom was the target of a major explosion, thought to be an act of sabotage.  The website claimed the explosion partially destroyed the site and trapped 240 people underground.  ISIS obtained from Astrium commercial satellite imagery of the site taken the day after the explosion (figure 1).  The imagery shows no exterior signs of an explosion or major damage.  Although an underground explosion may not leave visible exterior signs of damage, ISIS observed no intensified activity in the form of emergency or cleanup vehicles that one would expect to see around the site in the wake of an incident of this magnitude (figure 1).  The lack of clarity at very high magnification does leave some doubt on whether a set of three white marks near one of the entrances of the southernmost tunnel could indeed be three vehicles. However, an emergency response would be expected to have been prompt and to have involved many more vehicles, particularly given the national importance of the gas centrifuge site and especially of the personnel working underground.

During the last few days, Iranian, Israeli, and U.S. officials denied that sabotage or a major incident occurred and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concurred. 

 Well, if it didn't happen, that would definitely be a disappointment.

/sigh

Labels: Fordow nuclear plant, IAEA, Iranian nuclear threat, Israeli attack on Iran, Qom, Reza Khalili, uranium enrichment

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:57 AM