Recent satellite images suggest that Iran is utilizing a two-week ceasefire to excavate missile launchers previously buried by U.S. and Israeli attacks during intense phases of the conflict.

In the aftermath of considerable unrest in the Middle East, the United States and Iran reached an agreement on April 8 for a temporary ceasefire, with Pakistan stepping in as a mediator to facilitate discussions aimed at potentially ending the ongoing war.

However, Iran seems to be actively using this pause in hostilities to its advantage. The newly released satellite imagery shows trucks removing debris from military bases located in Tabriz and Khomeyn. This activity indicates a strategic effort to clear blocked access points to these bases, which had been targeted in efforts by Israel and the U.S. to limit Iran’s missile capabilities.

Earlier this week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that American military actions had “effectively crippled” Iran’s missile program, rendering it “combat ineffective for years.” Nevertheless, concerns persist among U.S. officials, who have cautioned The Wall Street Journal that Iran might be able to excavate and refurbish a significant portion of its concealed missile arsenal.

Earlier this week, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth claimed the US’ military operation had ‘functionally destroyed’ Iran’s missile programme, leaving the country ‘combat ineffective for years to come’.

But US officials warned the Wall Street Journal that Iran may simply be able to dig out and repair much of its buried missile stock. 

It comes amid confusion over whether the US is seeking to extend the ceasefire with Iran. 

Earlier reports suggested Donald Trump was keen to push the deadline further than next week. 

Satellite images taken following the ceasefire’s announcement appear to show rubble being taken away by trucks from bases in Tabriz and Khomeyn

The images appear to show a concerted effort to unblock the entrances to these bases, which were targeted by Israel and the US to stop Iran from accessing missiles

But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tonight denied these reports, saying they were ‘not true at this moment’.

Further confusion came in the form of differing messages over whether the Strait of Hormuz was actually open, following Trump’s order to block it off on the US’ behalf.  

After peace talks with the Islamic regime collapsed over the weekend, the President launched a naval blockade of Hormuz, a critical oil chokepoint through which one-fifth of the world’s supply flows.

Trump imposed the blockade to push Tehran back to the negotiating table, with the President reportedly reluctant to resume the bombing campaign, which has brought chaos to the Middle East.

During the start of Operation Epic Fury, Iran retaliated by choking off traffic through the strait with swarms of explosive speedboats, drones, and naval mines.

Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that the waterway is now ‘permanently open’ after secret talks with Xi Jinping, claiming the Chinese leader had agreed to stop arming Iran.

‘China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘I am doing it for them, also – And the World. This situation will never happen again.’

But the US military today released audio footage of an ominous radio message to ships in the Strait, telling them to ‘prepare to be boarded.’

Trump imposed the blockade to push Tehran back to the negotiating table, with the President reportedly reluctant to resume the bombing campaign, which has brought chaos to the Middle East

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) firing a Tomahawk land attack missile in support of Operation Epic Fury on March 1

In the released audio, a US military officer says: ‘The US has announced a formal blockade of Iranian ports in coastal areas.’

‘This is a legal action. All vessels are advised to immediately return to port if leaving, and discontinue transit to Iran if that is your next port of call, do not attempt to breach the blockade.’ 

The officer warns that any vessels breaching the blockade ‘will be boarded for interdiction and seizure’ and that ‘we will use force.’

A senior White House official told the Daily Mail that, despite Donald Trump’s promise to reopen it, ‘the blockade is fully in effect and working.’ 

It remains unclear whether Trump was declaring the strait open to shipping traffic immediately or signalling an intent to reach a permanent resolution as peace talks with Iran continue.

And despite the claims that Trump had opened the Strait as a favour to China, its leader Xi Jinping called Trump’s decision to block it off ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ while demanding the world must not ‘revert to the law of the jungle.’