Key Points
- Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is one of the world’s most secure and secretive nuclear facilities, buried deep within a mountain near Qom.
- Satellite images reveal only the facility’s entrances and security perimeter; the underground complex is estimated to be 80–110 meters (262–360 feet) below ground, far beyond the reach of Israeli bombs.
- Fordow is central to Iran’s uranium enrichment program and a major concern for Israel and the West, especially as tensions rise in the region.
- The site has rapidly increased its enrichment capacity in 2024, now capable of producing weapons-grade uranium in weeks if Iran chooses.
- Only the U.S. possesses the bunker-busting bombs potentially capable of damaging Fordow, making American involvement crucial for any military strike.
New Delhi: Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant has once again become the epicenter of global nuclear anxiety. Recent satellite imagery shows only the facility’s outer defenses: five tunnel entrances, a sprawling support structure, and a wide security perimeter. What happens deep inside remains a mystery, especially as the Iran-Israel standoff intensifies.
Buried for Survival:
The Fordow complex is carved into a mountainside near Qom, with its main operational areas buried 80–110 meters (262–360 feet) underground deeper than any other known Iranian nuclear site. This immense depth makes it immune to any Israeli munitions; only the U.S. Air Force’s 30,000-pound GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb could possibly reach it, and even that offers no guarantee of total destruction.
Origins and Discovery
Built in Secrecy:
Fordow was constructed in the mid-2000s as a military installation for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before being converted into a nuclear enrichment facility. Western intelligence agencies discovered its existence before Iran officially acknowledged it to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2009, prompting then U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders to reveal it publicly and condemn Iran’s lack of transparency.
Why Fordow Matters Now
A Centerpiece of Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions:
Fordow is Iran’s second-largest enrichment facility after Natanz, but it is far more secure. The IAEA and independent analysts confirm that Fordow now houses thousands of centrifuges many of them advanced IR-6 models capable of rapidly enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels. In early 2024, Iran began a dramatic expansion, installing eight new cascades of IR-6 centrifuges and boosting its enrichment capacity by over 350%.
Weapons-Grade Potential:
Recent IAEA reports warn that Fordow could produce enough weapons-grade uranium for a nuclear bomb within weeks if Iran made the decision to do so. In March 2023, inspectors even found uranium enriched to 83.7% dangerously close to the 90% threshold for weapons use.
Why Israel Can’t Strike Fordow Alone
Beyond Israel’s Reach:
Fordow’s depth and fortifications make it nearly invulnerable to Israeli airstrikes. Israeli munitions can only penetrate about 10 meters of rock, while Fordow’s tunnels are buried at least eight times deeper. Only the U.S. military’s GBU-57 bomb, delivered by a B-2 stealth bomber, could potentially damage the facility. Even then, experts caution that Fordow’s design and unknown reinforcements may allow parts of the complex to survive.
Alternative Tactics:
If a direct strike is impossible, experts suggest sabotaging entrances, ventilation systems, or power supplies to disable the plant temporarily. Israel has also used cyberattacks in the past, such as the Stuxnet virus, to disrupt Iran’s nuclear activities.
Global Stakes and Diplomatic Fallout
A Flashpoint for Nuclear Proliferation:
Fordow’s resilience and Iran’s ongoing enrichment activities have made it a focal point in the global debate over nuclear nonproliferation. The site’s continued operation, especially after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), has raised alarms in Washington, Tel Aviv, and European capitals. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but the secrecy and scale of Fordow fuel suspicions of military intent.
Diplomatic Crossroads:
As the U.S. weighs whether to support Israeli military action, the risk of a wider regional war looms. Any attack on Fordow would likely provoke a fierce Iranian response and could draw in other global powers, including Russia and China, both of whom have expressed support for Iran in international forums.
