IRAN NUKESAssessment of Blue Barrels Moved into Esfahan Mountain in Days Before June 2025 War
Le Monde brought to our attention a June 9, 2025, a commercial satellite image taken just four days before the start of the June War. Given the overall appearance of the activity in the image, it appears to us that, of the options considered, the best match is that the blue barrels or casks contain 60 percent enriched uranium enroute to protective storage within the tunnel complex, irrespective of Iranian intent regarding its overhead observation.
Le Monde brought to our attention a June 9, 2025, Airbus Pleiades Neo commercial satellite image taken just four days before the start of the June War, showing a large flatbed truck carrying 18 blue barrels or casks toward the southern tunnel entrance of the underground Esfahan facility (see Figures 1 and 2). The truck is followed by a truck-mounted crane. Three vehicles accompany the trucks, which could be for security and nuclear personnel. Figure 3 shows an April 18, 2023, Google Earth overlay on the June 2025 image, showing the approach more clearly and the gates to the defensive framework.
Le Monde published a report on this image last week and cites the observations we provided, “Revealed: Satellite image shows mysterious cargo at Iranian nuclear site in 2025” by Asia Balluffier.[1] Our observations are described in full detail below.
At a minimum, the image shows a highly unusual transfer of something being taken into the tunnels just before the start of the June War, which Iran knew would target Esfahan.( The Esfahan mountain complex was declared to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the mid-2000s as a place to store important nuclear assets in the event of an impending military strike. Thus, the barrels in this convoy could be valuable nuclear assets being rushed into the tunnel complex, fearing that a military strike could occur soon. Esfahan was subsequently hit multiple times during the war.
We must also consider the remote possibility that this convoy was staged. Most high resolution commercial imaging satellites (including Airbus) acquire imagery at about 10:30 am local sun time for ultimate illumination and sun/shadow angles. This is widely understood. The fact that this convoy was imaged at that time on a cloud free day and did not take place under the cover of the night or on an overcast day must be viewed as fortuitous if it was not staged.
On the other hand, Iran may have wanted the shipment to be seen. As of June 9, Iran was in compliance with IAEA monitoring of enriched uranium stocks. Perhaps, Iran wanted to ensure that the IAEA saw the movement of the items, particularly if the shipment contained highly enriched uranium.
