New Evidence from Iran’s Opposition Group on Nuclear Program
Iran’s opposition coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has put forth significant allegations stating that the country’s nuclear weapons initiative has resumed under the oversight of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
At a press conference held on Tuesday, Alileza Jafarzadeh, who serves as the deputy director in the Washington office of the NCRI, shared the findings of the Iranian People’s Group (PMOI/MEK) and details about a secret project known as the Kabir plan.
This Kabir plan reportedly involves multiple clandestine facilities located in Semnan province, which is a large desert area situated west of Tehran, and has been classified as a military zone since 2009.
Initially launched by Khamenei in 2009, the Kabir plan succeeded the AMAD plan, which was made public and subsequently halted in 2003. The current plan aims to enhance nuclear warheads capable of being deployed over distances exceeding 2,000 miles.
While the Iranian government claims that the Kabir program is intended for “desert safety,” the NCRI contends that it is actually focused on developing nuclear weapons under the pretense of creating satellite-launching missiles.
The group has pinpointed seven sites linked to these covert operations, including Shahroud and Semnan, dedicated to the development of nuclear warheads for both solid and liquid fuel missiles. Various facilities will focus on different aspects of this program: Ivanaki will be responsible for weapon components, Saintjalan for a shock wave generator, and Solkhe Hesl for conducting underground explosion examinations. Additionally, Parkin (Project 6) will specialize in explosives and nuclear-related studies, all managed by SPND Headquarters in Noorville, Tehran.
Jafarzadeh noted that Iran has implemented extensive measures to shield its nuclear development activities in Semnan from outside scrutiny. The government has even erased shortcut routes between Semnan, Yazd, and Isfahan from official maps, deployed drones equipped with facial recognition technology to monitor people, and established intelligence units like the Kabir security unit to maintain secrecy.
Moreover, foreign visitors, especially those from the U.S. and Europe, have been under strict surveillance, with reports indicating they’ve faced interrogations aimed at controlling their exposure or even arrests.
The NCRI indicated that this aggressive stance towards intelligence gathering reveals not only the regime’s desire to conceal nuclear initiatives but also its increasing anxiety about a potential internal collapse.
In discussions with media outlets, Jafarzadeh highlighted how Tehran views the threat from MEK and its resistance factions as existential. He recently referenced remarks by senior cleric Ahmad Katami, who acknowledged the group’s potential to swiftly undermine the Islamic Republic.
Jafarzadeh claimed that the regime’s fixation with MEK is evident in repeated mentions during Friday prayers and formal statements. He suggested that Iranian leaders are more concerned than ever about deteriorating economic conditions, national turmoil, and conflicts with revolutionary security forces, especially as Assad’s grip on power wanes in Syria.
On a related note, during this critical period of nuclear negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has now confirmed that Iran has breached its non-proliferation commitments—marking a notable shift for the first time in nearly two decades.
In light of these tensions, the U.S. has begun withdrawing non-essential embassy personnel from Iraq, ramping up tensions in the region. The State Department has provided exit options for staff stationed in Bahrain and Kuwait. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses has approved a voluntary departure for military families in the Middle East.
The NCRI asserts that the moment for diplomatic negotiations has passed. It plans to urge Western nations to initiate a UN snapback mechanism, reinstating all relevant sanctions and security measures before their expiration in October.
The group’s policy blueprint calls for an outright closure of all Iranian nuclear sites, with unlimited IAEA inspections, and a complete dismantling of Iran’s ballistic missile programs—vital for nuclear warhead deployment. They demand no exemptions for either military or civilian nuclear facilities, aiming for full transparency.
Last month, the NCRI showcased intelligence indicating that Iran is enhancing capabilities to create a “boost” nuclear warhead within a concealed military facility masquerading as a chemical plant, suggesting Tehran is expanding its hydrogen bomb capabilities.
Previously, the NCRI had disclosed secret sites at Natanz, Arak, and Fordow using information from the PMOI/MEK network. Recent announcements reinforce a pattern of denial and delayed accountability from Tehran.
This situation unfolds amid rising tensions surrounding stagnant nuclear discussions and new military threats from Iran. In May, Iranian state television quoted military officials who claimed the capability to strike U.S. bases and noted the stationing of new solid-fuel missiles throughout the country in anticipation of potential conflict.
