More than 250,000 newly released high-resolution images exposed extensive strike damage at Iranian military and nuclear-linked sites after Planet Labs restored access to imagery from nearly 800 locations.
BBC Verify’s review of Esfahan and Bushehr imagery captured since 9 March showed hit ammunition depots, missile infrastructure, air-defense and naval sites, adding detail beyond earlier verified videos of US-Israeli strikes.
Bushehr images showed flattened buildings, destroyed aircraft, sunken ships and cratered runways — including at the international airport — with some repairs already visible.
Esfahan province imagery showed damage at bases near the city and Baharestan, including more than 60 severely damaged or destroyed structures and hits near the Shekari 8 airbase and nuclear facilities at Esfahan and Natanz.
Planet had imposed the restrictions after a US government request, and delays still cover much of the Middle East, limiting independent assessment of the war’s military and civilian impact.
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After the 2026 Satellite Blackout: Iran’s Nuclear Recovery, Data Voids, and the New Era of Geospatial Control
Overview
After the major events of May 2026, Iran faced serious challenges as it worked to assess and recover from damage to its critical infrastructure, especially its nuclear sites. Despite the destruction, some highly-enriched uranium remains buried but potentially recoverable, though extracting it will be slow and complex. At the same time, a new U.S. policy led to a blackout of commercial satellite imagery, making it much harder for journalists and analysts to independently verify events or assess the true extent of the damage. This blackout has created a significant information gap, raising concerns about transparency and future access to vital data in conflict zones.