The New York Times reports that on November 12, an explosion took place at an Iranian missile base “which Iranian authorities have called an accident that set back research work there a few days.” But now new commercial satellite images obtained by the Institute for Science and International Security show that the explosion “appears to have been far more devastating than [Iranian officials’] description suggested.”

The blast was supposedly an accident which took place while “rocket engineers were performing a volatile procedure with a missile engine,” according to the Times. Maybe, maybe not. Among those killed was one of the founders of Iran’s missile program, General Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, who according to Iran’s news service had requested in his last will and testament that his tombstone read: “Here is the one who wanted to destroy Israel.” And according to Iran’s military chief of staff, Hassan Firouzabadi, the scientists under Moghaddam’s command were working on a weapon capable of delivering Israel a “strong punch in the mouth.” Perhaps Moghaddam and his team got a strong punch in the mouth themselves instead.

The Iranians are denying any Israeli or American involvement, declaring that “neither the Mossad nor the CIA are capable” of being behind the blast. Then again, General Firouzabadi also claimed that the explosion would only result is a “short-term delay of a few days.”

Here are the photos. Judge for yourself. Seems like quite an accident.

Iranian missile base before November 12 explosion:

Iranian missile base after the blast: