Satellites Camouflaging Nuclear Delivery System Development
PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON EXPOSES EXPLOSIVE NEW REVELATIONS
Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions have once again been thrust into the spotlight, thanks to a bombshell report detailing secretive activities at two Iranian space research sites. According to intelligence gathered by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its sources within the regime, the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND)—the core of Iran’s nuclear weapons program—is actively developing nuclear warheads at the Shahrud and Semnan facilities. Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director of NCRI’s Washington, D.C. office and the man who first exposed Iran’s covert nuclear program in 2002, is now warning the international community that the threat is more imminent than ever.
A Cover for Nuclear Weapons Development
Jafarzadeh highlights the concerning reality that Iran has been using its space program as a cover for advancing its nuclear weapons capabilities. The Shahrud Space Center, originally designated for satellite launches, is now reported to house large numbers of SPND personnel who are allegedly working on nuclear warheads for the Ghaem-100 solid-fuel missile. This missile, developed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has a mobile launch platform and a range exceeding 1,800 miles—capabilities that indicate its potential use as a nuclear delivery system.
The second site, the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Semnan, has also been identified as a key location for Iran’s nuclear efforts. Tehran recently launched its heaviest-ever rocket from this site, reportedly using liquid-fuel technology that could be adapted for nuclear warhead deployment. The NCRI report suggests that Iran’s focus on liquid-fuel rockets, such as the Simorgh, is another indicator that the country is developing weapons-grade missile technology under the guise of space research.
Jafarzadeh warns that it is a grave mistake to view Iran’s nuclear ambitions solely through the lens of uranium enrichment. While Iran has stockpiled an alarming 440 pounds of near-weapons-grade uranium—enough to develop multiple nuclear bombs—it is also simultaneously working on warhead construction and missile delivery systems. “It is naïve to only focus on calculating the amount or purity of enriched uranium without concentrating on the construction of the nuclear bomb or its delivery system,” Jafarzadeh told Fox News Digital.
A Growing Threat to Global Security
The revelations about Iran’s nuclear weapons program come at a time when tensions in the region are already high. Iran’s continued defiance of international oversight and its close cooperation with North Korea in missile technology development raise serious security concerns. The NCRI report notes that the Ghaem-100 missile is based on North Korean designs, further solidifying suspicions that Iran is receiving external assistance in advancing its weapons program.
Jafarzadeh urges world leaders not to be complacent in the face of Iran’s deceptive tactics. He stresses that diplomatic engagement alone will not deter Tehran from its nuclear ambitions. Instead, he calls for a firm and immediate response, including increased sanctions, heightened intelligence operations, and greater international scrutiny of Iran’s so-called space research activities.
With Iran’s nuclear threat growing by the day, the world must take Jafarzadeh’s warnings seriously. The evidence points to an accelerating weapons program hidden behind civilian projects, and failure to act now could have catastrophic consequences for global security.
Related Article(s)
Satellite Images Suggest Israel Struck a Major Iranian Missile Plant – The New York Times
Iran’s covert nuclear agency found operating out of top space program launch sites | Fox News
How the Ghaem-100 Rocket Puts Iran’s Space Program on a New Trajectory | Iran Watch
Q&A:
- What specific evidence has been uncovered that confirms Iran is developing nuclear warheads at the Shahrud and Semnan sites?
- How does Iran’s space program serve as a cover for its nuclear weapons development, and what are the most alarming signs of this?
- You have stated that focusing only on uranium enrichment is a mistake—can you elaborate on why the international community should pay more attention to Iran’s missile and warhead development?
- What role does the IRGC play in Iran’s nuclear program, and how does its connection to North Korea influence Iran’s missile capabilities?
- What do you believe is Iran’s ultimate goal with its nuclear weapons program, and how soon could they potentially have a fully operational nuclear warhead?
- Given that Iran has been deceptive in the past regarding its nuclear activities, what actions should the international community take to prevent further nuclear development?
- What is your response to those who argue that Iran’s space program is purely for peaceful purposes and scientific advancement?
- How should the U.S. and its allies respond to this intelligence, and what steps should be taken to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability?
ABOUT ALIREZA JAFARZADEH…
Alireza Jafarzadeh serves as the Deputy Director of the Washington Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). He is also the author of The Iran Threat (Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2008).
A recognized expert on Iranian policy, Jafarzadeh has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. His groundbreaking work in 2002 and 2003 led to the discovery of key illicit nuclear sites in Iran, including the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the Arak heavy water plant, the Kalaye Electric centrifuge testing facility near Tehran, and the Lashkar Ab’ad laser enrichment facility. These revelations prompted the first-ever inspections of Iranian nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Jafarzadeh is a frequent guest on major television and radio networks, including CBS Evening News, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, Bloomberg TV, and France 24. His insights have also been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and The Hill.
ABOUT SHAHIN GOBADI…
Shahin Gobadi, a U.S.-educated nuclear engineer, is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
An astute observer of Iranian affairs for over three decades, Gobadi is an expert on topics including Iranian state-sponsored terrorism, proxy groups in the Middle East, the Iranian nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Western policy toward Iran, and internal Iranian affairs.
He has been interviewed by major international media outlets, including CNN, Fox News, BBC, Sky TV, GB News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, Reuters, and the Associated Press. Gobadi’s writings have appeared in prominent media across the U.S. and Europe.
ABOUT ALI SAFAVI…
Ali Safavi is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Iran’s Parliament-in-Exile.
A sociologist by training, Safavi studied and taught at UCLA, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Michigan. He was an active participant in the anti-Shah student movement in the 1970s in the United States and has been deeply engaged in Iranian affairs ever since.
Safavi has lectured and written extensively on Iran, Iraq, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and Middle Eastern politics. He has appeared in interviews on networks such as CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, BBC, Sky TV, Newsmax, and France 24. His articles and commentary have been published in leading outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, The Boston Herald, The Washington Times, and The Financial Times.
CONTACT:
For further details or to arrange the interview, please contact Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or Bookings@SpecialGuests.com
