US deploys massive air power to Middle East, Iran fortifies nuclear sites: Will US strike Iran this weekend?

As US deploys massive air power to Middle East and Iran fortifies nuclear sites, will the US strike this weekend?

• Iran buries nuclear sites under concrete amid US military buildup
• US deploys two aircraft carriers and advanced jets to the region
• Iran fortifies Parchin, Natanz, and Esfahan sites, satellite images show

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Iran is rapidly shielding key nuclear facilities beneath concrete and earth, turning them into hardened bunkers as US military presence in the region increases, according to satellite analysis by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS).

This comes as the US has deployed a significant number of fighter jets and support aircraft to the Middle East.

The Washington-based nonproliferation watchdog said high-resolution imagery shows accelerated efforts to bury and reinforce sensitive sites, raising concerns about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions even as diplomatic talks continue.

US Air and naval deployments

The US has deployed 13 warships to the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, nine destroyers, and three littoral combat ships. The USS USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is en route from the Atlantic to the region with three destroyers.

It is rare for the US to have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East simultaneously. A similar deployment occurred in June last year when Washington targeted three Iranian nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day campaign of strikes on Iran.

A large US air fleet is also operating in the region, including F-22 Raptors, F-15s, F-16s, and KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft. On Wednesday, Flightradar24 tracked multiple KC-135s, E3 Sentry AWACS, and cargo planes near or over the Middle East, supporting ongoing air operations.

Ongoing US readiness

CNN and CBS reported that the US military could be ready to launch strikes against Iran as early as this weekend, though Trump has not yet made a final decision. Meanwhile, satellite imagery indicates Iran continues fortifying infrastructure tied to its nuclear program, highlighting its “strategic significance,” according to ISIS.

Concrete sarcophagus at Parchin

At the Taleghan 2 facility within the Parchin military complex, roughly 30 kilometers southeast of Tehran, satellite imagery from February 13 shows a completed concrete shell around the main structure. Soil is now being piled over it.

“The facility may soon become a fully unrecognisable bunker, providing significant protection from aerial strikes,” said ISIS president David Albright.

The site is enclosed by high-security walls, and a concrete batch plant within the perimeter appears dedicated to ongoing fortification. The institute said the construction indicates “the strategic importance of the facility to the Iranian regime,” though its precise purpose cannot be determined from imagery alone.

Tunnels hardened near Natanz

Additional satellite images from February 10 show work to strengthen tunnel entrances under Kolang-Gaz La Mountain, about two kilometers from the Natanz nuclear facility. Concrete has been poured over an extended western tunnel entrance, and soil and rock have been leveled at an eastern portal to allow extra overburden for protection against airstrikes.

“These efforts strengthen the tunnel portals and provide additional protection against an airstrike,” the institute said.

Smaller covered vehicles near the entrances suggest interior outfitting is underway. Past construction at the site was linked to rebuilding an advanced centrifuge assembly plant, but the size and mountain cover of the complex “raised immediate concern whether additional sensitive activities are planned, such as uranium enrichment.”

Concealment at Esfahan

Imagery from February 8 shows efforts to hide tunnel entrances at the Esfahan nuclear complex, a site previously targeted by US strikes. The effectiveness of these measures against powerful aerial attacks remains unclear.

Regional tensions, protests, and diplomacy

Trump ordered the Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East as Iran cracked down on domestic protests, which began over economic grievances but evolved into broader opposition to the regime.

Trump has repeatedly warned that US intervention would follow if protesters were killed, urging Iranians to take over state institutions and stating, “help is on the way.”

While US-Iran talks in Geneva on Tuesday sought to avert military conflict, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the sides were “still very far apart on some issues” despite “a little bit of progress made.” “Iran would be very wise to make a deal,” she added.

Strengthened defenses

Since last year’s conflict, Iran has upgraded air defenses at Parchin, reactivating abandoned anti-aircraft sites and installing two new positions. Historically, Parchin was involved in nuclear weapons–related work during the Amad Plan.