Canadian-Based Company Fined by U.S. Commerce Department for Hiding U.S. Exports to Iran
Canada-based biotechnology company Luminultra illegally exported from its Maryland-based production facility three Photonmaster luminometers and 25 aqueous test kits valuing $33,438 USD to Iran on October 21, 2022. Under instructions from the Iranian buyer, and hopes of future sales to the Iranian market, Luminultra agreed to falsify export declarations and ship the items from the United States via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Iran. Under further instructions from the Iranian buyer, Luminultra received payment at a Canadian bank in Canadian dollars specifically to avoid payment for the shipment in USD and through a US bank.
New Construction Identified at Taleghan 2, a Former AMAD Plan Nuclear Weapons Development Site
New construction activity, which began before the June 12-Day War and continued afterwards, has been occurring at the former Taleghan 2 site, which was destroyed by an Israeli bombing on October 25th, 2024. Starting around mid-May, efforts were made to rebuild the structure destroyed in the October 2024 attack. Satellite imagery from May 20, 2025, shows a black temporary cover that had been hastily installed over the destroyed building (see Figure 1). By June 12, 2025, imagery shows ground preparations and the laying of foundations in front of the temporary reconstructed cover building (see Figure 2). The site was not bombed during the 12-Day War.
Imagery Update on the Esfahan Tunnel Complex
In imagery dated to late September and early October all three tunnel entrances show recent or ongoing activity to different extent. However, the visible activity does not indicate a dash to remove possible centrifuge or enriched uranium stocks inside the tunnel complex; rather it points more towards preparing controlled and secure access to two of the three tunnel entrances, and hardening the entrances and utilities against future strikes.
China's Plutonium Production for Nuclear Weapons
China has the means to make more plutonium for nuclear weapons, a type of plutonium typically referred to as “weapon-grade.” We evaluated two of the most likely potential sources of weapon-grade plutonium: the civilian China Fast Reactor 600 (CFR-600), and the old 821 Plant reactor that was built several decades ago as part of China’s military plutonium complex.
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New Construction Identified at Taleghan 2, a Former AMAD Plan Nuclear Weapons Development Site
New construction activity, which began before the June 12-Day War and continued afterwards, has been occurring at the former Taleghan 2 site, which was destroyed by an Israeli bombing on October 25th, 2024. Starting around mid-May, efforts were made to rebuild the structure destroyed in the October 2024 attack. Satellite imagery from May 20, 2025, shows a black temporary cover that had been hastily installed over the destroyed building (see Figure 1). By June 12, 2025, imagery shows ground preparations and the laying of foundations in front of the temporary reconstructed cover building (see Figure 2). The site was not bombed during the 12-Day War.
Imagery Update on the Esfahan Tunnel Complex
In imagery dated to late September and early October all three tunnel entrances show recent or ongoing activity to different extent. However, the visible activity does not indicate a dash to remove possible centrifuge or enriched uranium stocks inside the tunnel complex; rather it points more towards preparing controlled and secure access to two of the three tunnel entrances, and hardening the entrances and utilities against future strikes.
Update on Iran’s Mountain Facilities South of the Natanz Enrichment Plant
Satellite imagery taken over the last months show that Iran is continuing construction activities at the Natanz “Pickaxe” mountain, or Mt Kolang Gaz-La, in line with activity at the site prior to the June war. As of September 2025, Iran’s visible activities point towards late stages of construction, including improving security, but represent neither an expansion of the site nor an acceleration of activity.
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Satellite imagery taken by Maxar, now Vantor, and Airbus at the end of September and early October shows activity at the Esfahan tunnel entrances. As of September 26, the second of three entrances (the middle entrance) which was previously blocked by earth and rubble has been cleared leaving the tunnel portal’s door visible. Heavy machinery visible in front of this entrance as well as the northernmost entrance on September 30th indicates that rather than rushing to get inside the tunnels, Iran is preparing controlled and secure access to two of the three tunnel entrances, and possibly hardening the entrances and utilities against future strikes. The southernmost tunnel entrance remains blocked by earth and rubble.
While two of three tunnel entrances have now been largely cleared, and no visible damage remains to their doors, the extent of damage to the tunnels remains unclear. A question is whether more damaging Joint Multiple Effects Warhead System (JMEWS) warheads were included on the Tomahawk cruise missiles that struck Esfahan.
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