Iran’s secret nuclear development activities uncovered at space launch centres Report by NCRI

The Iranian Defence Ministry's secret agency responsible for nuclear development is reportedly conducting its activities at sites associated with Iran’s space program. 

In a report exclusively obtained by Fox News, the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) says that the Defence Innovation and Research Organization (SPND), a key player in Iran's nuclear ambitions, is operating at two locations previously identified as space test and launch sites, per Caliber.Az.

The NCRI has long suspected Iran of using its space program as a cover for developing technologies that could also support its nuclear weapons program, with these activities often disguised under the guise of commercial enterprises.

Recent reports, verified through numerous sources, indicate that SPND has recently intensified efforts to develop nuclear warheads at two key locations: the Shahroud and Semnan sites.

At the Shahroud Space Centre, which is believed to be used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the development of medium-range ballistic missiles, large SPND forces are reportedly working on a nuclear warhead for the Ghaem-100 missile. This missile, capable of a range exceeding 3,000 kilometres, is said to be able to carry both low-orbit satellites and a nuclear payload. The Ghaem-100, announced in 2022, is claimed to be modelled on North Korean missile technology.

The second site, the Imam Khomeini Cosmodrome in Semnan, is Iran’s first spaceport. In December, Iran launched its heaviest liquid-fueled rocket from this location. According to the NCRI, Iran continues to refine liquid-fueled rocket technology, including the Simorgh rocket, which has a range of over 2,900 kilometres and can carry heavy satellites or potentially a nuclear warhead.

The NCRI’s findings come as Iran continues to advance its nuclear program. After the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Iran resumed its nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment beyond the limits set by the agreement.

While Iran publicly maintains that its nuclear ambitions are for the "peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy," it has faced growing international scrutiny, especially as it claims to be cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

By Tamilla Hasanova