Satellite Images Reveal New Damage Inside Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Complex

Satellite imagery has revealed fresh damage within Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant complex following the most recent round of US military strikes during a period of renewed escalation between Washington and Tehran.

A comparison of European Sentinel-2 satellite images captured on July 7 and July 12 shows newly formed impact scars inside the Bushehr complex, along with what appears to be another strike site within nearby support facilities.

The open-source unit of Al Jazeera Network compiled satellite imagery, field footage, and official data from US Central Command (CENTCOM) to map the locations of American strikes across Iran between July 7 and July 15.

Official Accounts of the Strikes

Ehsan Jahanian, deputy governor of Bushehr province, stated on July 9 that several locations across the province had been struck, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA. The affected sites included areas surrounding the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a military site in Choghadak, and a fishing port in the south of the province.

Jahanian subsequently denied reports that the nuclear power plant itself had been directly hit, maintaining that the reactor remained unaffected and continued to operate normally.

The strikes occurred as part of a broader US military campaign against Iran. CENTCOM reported that approximately 90 military targets were struck on July 7 and 8, including air defence systems, missile and drone storage sites, naval assets, and military infrastructure along Iran's southern coast.

The United States did not identify Bushehr or any other nuclear facility among its announced targets.

Iran's Only Operating Nuclear Power Plant

Bushehr is Iran's sole operating nuclear power plant. Situated approximately 17 kilometers (11 miles) south of the city of Bushehr, the 2.5-square-kilometer (one-square-mile) complex encompasses reactor buildings, cooling-water channels connected to the ocean, assembly halls, and a harbor used for receiving equipment and materials for construction and reactor operations.

The site contains two reactor buildings — one operational and another that has remained unfinished for years. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS), Bushehr-1 has a net electrical capacity of roughly 915 megawatts.

The plant was first connected to Iran's electricity grid in September 2011 before entering commercial operation in September 2013.

Unlike uranium enrichment facilities such as Natanz or Fordow, the operating Bushehr reactor contains nuclear fuel and radioactive materials associated with power generation. This distinction makes any damage to its cooling, power supply, or containment systems significantly more sensitive.

Previous Incidents at the Site

The July strike was not the first reported projectile incident near the Bushehr plant in 2026. IAEA event reports submitted by Iran's nuclear regulator recorded multiple incidents earlier in the year, including projectiles striking inside the plant's premises on March 17, March 24, and March 27.

Another impact was recorded near the fence surrounding the reactor's first unit on April 4. In each instance, Iranian authorities reported that the reactor continued operating normally and that no damage to the reactor itself had been recorded.

The IAEA has repeatedly emphasized that nuclear facilities should never become targets of armed attacks due to the potential consequences for people, the environment, and regional nuclear safety.

As satellite evidence continues to surface and tensions between the United States and Iran show little sign of abating, the international community remains watchful of the risks surrounding one of the region's most sensitive nuclear sites. If you found this report informative, share it with others to help spread awareness of this evolving situation.

Source: Al Jazeera English