Satellite Images Show Strikes Near Iran’s Biggest Nuclear Power Plant

What Happened?

Satellite pictures have shown new damage inside Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant complex. This happened after the United States carried out new attacks during a time of rising military tension between Washington (the US government) and Tehran (Iran’s capital).

Think of satellites like cameras in space that take pictures of the ground from very far away.

• A comparison of pictures taken by European Sentinel-2 satellites on July 7 and July 12 shows:
  • New marks from impacts (like craters or scars) inside the Bushehr complex
  • Another possible strike site in nearby support buildings
• Al Jazeera’s open-source team put together satellite images, videos from the ground, and official US data to map where US strikes hit in Iran between July 7 and July 15.

Important Point: The US military did NOT say Bushehr or any nuclear site was a target.

What Iranian Officials Said

• On July 9, Ehsan Jahanian (deputy governor of Bushehr province) said several places in the province were hit, including:
  • Areas around the Bushehr nuclear power plant
  • A military site in Choghadak
  • A fishing port in the south of the province
• Later, Jahanian said the nuclear plant itself was not hit. He said the reactor (the part that makes power) was fine and kept working normally.

The Bigger US Military Campaign

The strikes were part of a wider US military action against Iran.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM – the part of the US military that handles the Middle East):

1. On July 7–8, the US struck about 90 military targets
2. These targets included:
   • Air defence systems (tools that shoot down flying threats)
   • Missile and drone storage sites
   • Naval assets (ships or related equipment)
   • Military buildings along Iran’s southern coast

The US did not list Bushehr or any nuclear facility among those targets.

Iran’s Only Operating Nuclear Power Plant

Bushehr is Iran’s only working nuclear power plant. Here’s what it looks like in simple terms:

• Location: About 17 km (11 miles) south of Bushehr city
• Size: 2.5 square kilometres (about 1 square mile)
• The complex includes:
  • Reactor buildings (where power is made)
  • Cooling-water channels linked to the ocean (to keep things from overheating)
  • Assembly halls
  • A harbour to bring in equipment
• It has two reactor buildings:
  • One is working
  • One has been unfinished for years

How Big and How Old?

• Bushehr-1 can make about 915 megawatts of electricity (enough to power a large city)
• It first connected to Iran’s power grid in September 2011
• It started full commercial use in September 2013

Important Point: Unlike places that enrich uranium (like Natanz or Fordow), Bushehr’s working reactor holds nuclear fuel and radioactive materials used for making electricity. If its cooling, power, or containment systems are damaged, it could be much more dangerous.

Previous Incidents in 2026

This was not the first time something flew near or into the Bushehr plant area in 2026.

Iran’s nuclear regulator reported to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency – a global watchdog for nuclear safety) these events:

• March 17: Projectile hit inside plant premises
• March 24: Another projectile hit inside premises
• March 27: Another projectile hit inside premises
• April 4: Impact near the fence of the reactor’s first unit

In all cases, Iranian authorities said:

• The reactor kept working normally
• No damage to the reactor itself was recorded

Important Point: The IAEA says nuclear facilities should NEVER be attacked because it could hurt people, the environment, and regional safety.

Summary

Satellite images from July 7 to July 12 show new impact marks inside Iran’s Bushehr nuclear complex and nearby support areas during a broader US strike campaign. Iranian officials say the reactor was not hit and is operating normally. Bushehr is Iran’s only active nuclear power plant and holds sensitive radioactive material. Earlier in 2026, several projectiles were reported near the site, and the IAEA warns such facilities must not be military targets.

FAQ

1. What is a satellite image?
It is a photo taken by a camera on a satellite in space, showing what is on the ground from far above.

2. Did the US say it attacked the nuclear plant?
No. The US listed about 90 military targets but did not name Bushehr or any nuclear facility.

3. Is the Bushehr reactor still working?
According to Iranian officials, yes. They said it was not hit and continued operating normally.

4. Why is Bushehr more sensitive than other nuclear sites?
Because its working reactor contains nuclear fuel and radioactive materials for making electricity, so damage to its safety systems could be very risky.

5. What does the IAEA say about attacks on nuclear sites?
The IAEA says nuclear facilities should never be attacked because of possible harm to people, the environment, and regional safety.