Over the last few days, Israel has targeted many Iran’s nuclear bases, but a very important and strategic nuclear site has survived- the Fordo Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is a heavy security base built in a deep depth below a mountain. Regarding this hideout to withstand air strikes, now experts say that only the US has the power to destroy it. Even though Israel has surprised the Western intelligence agencies with its Sekresh Operation and Military Action earlier, experts say there is no evidence that it has enough powerful weapons to penetrate the security of Fordo.
What is Iran’s Fordo?
The Ford Fuel Enrichment Plant is one of the most secret and extremely safe nuclear site in Iran. This place, hidden under a mountain near Fordo village, was designed to oppose air strikes and foreign intervention, 30 km from COM and 160 km from Tehran. The place was actually part of the missile base of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Building Fordo Plant
Iran began manufacturing Fordo under the Secret “Amad Plan” in the early 2000s, which was to develop nuclear weapons. It was hidden from all over the world for years.
In 2009, Western intelligence agencies exposed the plant, after which Iran officially revealed this to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). At that time, this revelation created serious global concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Why is it so difficult to hit Fordo?
The thing that makes Fordo so malicious is its depth. It is 80 to 300 feet below the ground. Due to this specialty, it gets away from any bomb and even advanced Israeli weapons target.
The plant was originally built to keep around 3,000 IR-1 centrifuge, which were arranged in two different sections. The base security of the base, including Russia’s S-300 systems, performs the ground-to-air missiles and has been continuously strengthened to avoid bombing.
According to The New York Post, Nicolas Karl, research manager of the Critical Thretures Project of the American Enterprise Institute, said, “Tehran has ensured that the plant can escape airstrikes, which has made the Fordo a more hard target than any other hideout, which have been a victim of attacks for years.”
Fordo role in Iran’s nuclear program
Under the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), Fordo was to be reused for peaceful scientific use, such as isotope production and enrichment activity.
After withdrawing from the US agreement in 2018, Iran resumed enrichant in Fordo. By 2025, about 2,000 centrifuge are currently operational, including advanced IR-6 models, enriching uranium up to 60 percent purity, which is dangerously close to the 90 percent limit required for nuclear weapons.
Fordo is now seen as Iran’s last and most important enforcement hub. According to experts, it produces an estimated 166 kg of 60 percent enriched uranium every three months, which is enough to make four atomic bombs if more enriched. Despite repeated attacks on Iran’s second nuclear site, Fordo has been untouched.
What did Israel say
Israeli officials consider the destruction of Fordo important to prevent Iran’s atomic ambitions. According to AXIOS, Israeli Ambassador to the US Yachiel Liter recently said, “The entire operation … should actually be completed with the elimination of Fordo.”
It is believed that only the US has weapons capable of destroying it. GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 15-ton “bunker buster”, is probably the only bomb that has the power to reach the core of Fordo. So far it does not seem that Israel has such capabilities.
According to the Washington Post, Kelsi Devanport, director of the Non -Proliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, said, “Israel may damage Iran’s major nuclear installations, but Israel cannot destroy strong sites such as Fordo without American military aid.”
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