The underground nuclear facility in Iran that only an American bomb can destroy

With about 2,000 centrifuges in office, the enrichment plant produces rich uranium by 60%, one step away from enriching 90% wanted for weapons production.

What distinguishes this object, located about 95km southwest of the capital Tehran, from other objects damaged by Israeli bombings on June 13th, is that it was built on a mountainside and stretched to a depth of about 260 to 300m, making it immune to air strikes. Some items were severely damaged by Israeli bombings on June 12th and the following days, but Fordow remains intact.

Experts estimate that regular air strikes could damage the area, making it temporarily useless, but the destruction of centrifuges and uranium reserves in the facility would require direct involvement of the United States, which has the nuclear head that can destroy it, GBU-57 A/B Massive Ordance Penetrator, a “bunker destroyer” that can penetrate 200 meters of land or concrete before it explodes.

Furthermore, the United States has the launch platform capable of using the missile, the secret B-2 Spirian bomber.

What's Fordow?

Construction of the fuel enrichment plant at Fordow started in the second half of 2007, according to Tehran, and became operational in 2009, the same year Western intelligence agencies discovered the existence of the facility at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), making Iran publicly accept it.

In 2009, according to media reports, intelligence agencies found Iran was trying to install 3,000 centrifugal dividers in the facility.

Two years later, then director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, reported that Iran had “installed centrifugal division in Fordow with the stated goal of” to produce uranium enriched by 20%. The following year, the nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had tripled its monthly production of 20%-rich uranium in Fordow.

UN surveys in 2012 revealed the existence of thick walls and bomb-resistant doors, with some shelters protected by 90m rock, according to a Washington Post report.

Iran agreed to suspend enrichment at Fordow and turn the object into a research centre after signing the Joint General Action Plan (JCPOA) in 2015, during Obama administration.

However, after the division of 2018 between Tehran and Washington, because of the withdrawal of the Trump administration by agreement and the imposing of sanctions on Tehran because of its ballistic missile program, uranium enrichment activities resumed at the site. Tehran claims the programme is destined for peaceful purposes.

During a surprise inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2023, inspectors found uranium particles enriched at 83.7%, which is near the level needed to produce weapons. The nuclear watchdog also said Iran had linked two centrifuges groups that allowed it to clear uranium to 60%.

A Reuters report said that in the last quarter, 166.6kg of enriched uranium was produced in 60%, which, if enriched further, could be used to produce about four nuclear weapons, according to the IAEA criteria. However, UN nuclear overseer General Director Rafael Gross told Sky News on Thursday that they could not confirm Iran was building a nuclear weapon. That same day, Israel hit the heavily water reactor Khundab, which was under construction.

“There will be no negotiations under pressure,”

After the International Atomic Energy Agency Governors Board (IAEA) said Iran had violated the provisions of the nuclear protection agreement, Tehran said it would continue its programme and build another structure with the most advanced centrifuges. The IAEA also published a report saying Iran had carried out hidden nuclear <x1-activities” in three countries, in violation of JCPOA's provisions, which could lead to sanctions by European partners in the deal.

Hours after the announcement of the IAEA, Israel, which is cautious of Tehran's nuclear ambitions, launched “preventing attacks” against its nuclear and military infrastructure last week, as part of Operation “Resing Leon”, targeting objects and killing key figures in its military and nuclear programmes.

According to Reuters, Natanz was also hit, the main opposition to enriching the regime by over 13,500 centrifuges in operation. The plant's pilot delivery plant (PFEP) houses 164 advanced centrifuges that can enrich uranium by 60%.

Since then, both countries have exchanged rockets and fears. Israel has hit key nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, Arak and Tehran, as well as Iranian oil and gas artefacts, including those in the capital, Tehran and Southern Pars. It has also damaged land-land launchers and the airspace of the Islamic regime. For his part, Iran has hit the Soroka hospital complex in southern Israel and the Weizmann Institute of Sciences.

The death toll in Iran has exceeded 220, according to a BBC report, while 24 have been killed in Israel. /Periscope/