The fortifications along the Iraq-Iran border extend for 12 miles.

Astronauts using a digital camera aboard the International Space Station took this image of a fortified border between Iraq and Iran. It’s possible to pick out earthworks and gun placements in the image, conveying tense relations that date back to the 1980s.

The area shown is near the coast of the Persian Gulf as well as oil refining and export centers. The fortifications run parallel to the border for a 12-mile stretch.