Iran Bolsters Defenses Amid Fears of Renewed Conflict With US, Israel

Iran is actively preparing for the possibility of renewed conflict with the United States and Israel, implementing a series of military and civilian measures. Satellite imagery reveals extensive fortification work at nuclear facilities and strategic sites, while the Iranian regime is intensifying threats against Gulf states and readying its public for a prolonged confrontation. According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, Iranian leadership fears that U.S. President Donald Trump may order further attacks after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections.

The focus of these preparations is on nuclear facilities that have survived previous American and Israeli strikes. A key site is the underground complex known as "Pickaxe Mountain," near the Natanz nuclear facility. This complex features tunnels dug deep into granite, making it extremely difficult to target with aerial munitions, even heavy bunker-buster bombs.

Satellite images analyzed by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) show accelerated construction at "Hammer Mountain" (Pickaxe Mountain) near Natanz, with sealing of entrances and operational readiness. Research from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington indicates that construction at the complex surged in 2026, reaching unprecedented activity levels. This includes new road construction, reinforced tunnel entrances, concrete work, and excavation, suggesting Iran has moved from tunneling to infrastructure installation within the tunnels.

Tunnel entrances are designed to impede direct missile penetration and reduce the impact of shockwaves. While these fortifications could make destroying the facility difficult even after an attack, the research does not confirm the operation of uranium enrichment centrifuges there, noting that observed activity is consistent with a facility still under construction. Similar defensive measures, including earthworks and obstacles, have been documented at other nuclear sites like Fordow and facilities related to the nuclear program in Isfahan, aimed at hindering ground assaults and access to uranium reserves.

Beyond physical fortifications, Iran is also engaging in civilian-level preparations. Military personnel are visiting kindergartens to discuss war and display weaponry. In Sabzevar, Revolutionary Guards members showed children a U.S. Tomahawk missile they claimed to have neutralized. Tehran streets feature advertisements for courses on shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles and sniper rifles. The Revolutionary Guards have also released footage of female commando unit training, including guerrilla warfare and drone operation, aiming to bolster public support and expand citizen participation in a potential war effort.

Tehran is also attempting to deter Washington through threats of regional escalation. Iranian officials have warned that another U.S. attack would be met with a severe and broader response, targeting Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure, strategic facilities in the UAE, and undersea communication cables. These threats to civilian infrastructure are intended to inflict economic damage beyond the Middle East and increase international pressure on the U.S. to avoid further escalation. Despite these extensive preparations, there is no current evidence of a U.S. decision to launch further attacks, but Iran's leadership considers the possibility significant enough to warrant these defensive investments and response plans. "The Islamic Republic is actively preparing for the next war, both in word and deed," stated Ben Talbalu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noting these steps serve as both deterrence and practical preparation.