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Iran has begun rebuilding missile production facilities targeted by Israel during June's 12-day war, satellite images analyzed by the Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday show, though the sites still lack planetary mixers crucial for producing solid fuel for the weapons.
The reconstruction effort comes as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prepares to address the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, with potential U.N. sanctions looming that would penalize missile program development.
Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC reveal construction activity at Iran's Parchin and Shahroud facilities, where mixing buildings and other structures are under repair. However, the large planetary mixers—machines with blades that revolve around a central point—remain missing from these sites.
"If they're able to reacquire some key things like planetary mixers, then that infrastructure is still there and ready to get rolling again," said Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, speaking to AP.
Before the June conflict, Iran could produce more than 200 solid-fuel missiles monthly, according to Carl Parkin, a summer fellow at the James Martin Center. The Israeli strikes specifically targeted this production capability.
"Israel's targeting indicates that they believed mixing was a bottleneck in Iran's missile production," Parkin said, adding, "If Iran is able to overcome their mixing limitations, they'll have all the casting capacity that they need to start producing at high volumes again."
Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, confirmed to Sky News Arabia that damaged nuclear facilities would be reconstructed despite international pressure.
"The targeted facilities will be rebuilt despite international pressure and Israel's potential attack threats," Eslami said.
"High enrichment rates are not necessarily for weapons purposes. We need higher enrichment for our precision measurement instruments. We've been under embargo for years. No one sells us these products," Eslami added.
Eslami ruled out negotiations with the United States, stating, "There's no need to talk to them. The U.S. has committed great injustices against the Iranian people, dealt heavy blows to Iran since the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, and recently conducted military attacks against our country."
The missile program represents one of Tehran's few military deterrents after Israeli strikes decimated Iran's air defense systems—capabilities Iran has long insisted will never be included in Western negotiations.
During the June war, Iran fired 574 ballistic missiles at Israel, according to the Washington-based Jewish Institute for National Security of America. Combined with earlier exchanges, Iran launched 904 missiles total, representing over a third of its estimated 2,500-missile arsenal.
Iran's Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh claimed the country now possesses advanced missiles, stating on Aug. 22: "The 12-day war with Israel has altered some of our priorities. We are now focused on producing military equipment with higher precision and greater operational capabilities."
Iran may turn to China for planetary mixers and solid fuel chemicals. The U.S. State Department sanctioned Chinese firms in April for allegedly providing Iran with "ballistic missile propellant ingredients," days after a massive explosion killed at least 70 people at an Iranian port—a blast Iran has not explained.
Iranian President Pezeshkian visited Beijing earlier this month for China's Victory Day parade, though neither government detailed potential military cooperation discussions.
"China supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and national dignity," the Chinese Foreign Ministry told AP, noting, "At the same time, China is deeply concerned about the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East."
The June conflict began with Israeli strikes on June 13 targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and military command structure, killing Iran's Chief of General Staff, Revolutionary Guards commander, and nine nuclear scientists.
The U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22, prompting Iranian retaliation against the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar before President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on June 24.
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