Firm and hidden: Why Iran’s Fordo Atomic Site is important; How can Israel try to get it out?
After the tension between Iran and Israel increases, a chilling question arises: can this spiral be in an atomic crisis? In the last five days, the situation has deteriorated, Israel has allegedly targeted atomic sites in Tehran. Experts warned that moving forward could make it frightening. Iran’s most secret and determination at the center of these growing tension is Fordow. Why is Fordow important? The deep tuck under a mountain near the Qom is one of the most secret and heavy stronghold nuclear sites in Iran. Its underground design-80 to 90 meters below the surface-it is almost impermeable for air strikes, even with the most advanced bunker-bomb bomb in Israel’s arsenal. Originally exposed through Western intelligence in 2009, Fordow was built in privacy and designed for survival, especially in front of Iran’s atomic infrastructure on possible military attacks.The ability to enrich uranium to a close level of weapon-grade is its ability to enrich uranium. According to the IAEA, the site now has 2,700 centrifuge and is enriching uranium with a small technical step -60% away from 90% of nuclear weapons.Fourdow’s atomic threatAccording to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in 2023, 83.7% purity was enriched on the site, which was closely dangerous to the 90% enrichment level required for nuclear weapons.Experts have warned that Iran can produce enough materials for several bombs in a few weeks if it opt for making its stockpile weapons. The strategic importance of Fordow is not only in its enrichment capabilities, but also in its symbolic and operating role as a rigorous decline, which enhances the stake of any military or diplomatic effort to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions.Repeated Israeli remains the Fordow, despite efforts to neutralize it. Only the US has such an event-as the GBU-57 bunker-buster-which can reach its burial core, and even it will require many attacks. For Iran, Fordow is a nuclear insurance policy. For the world, it is a red line – and possibly counting a reverse.Iran is a professor at Hopkins University, “Iranians perfectly understood that Israel would try to go inside its programs, and he built a Fordo inside a mountain inside a mountain, which is to take care of the problem after Iraq.”
A bomb that can break
Only a known weapon can potentially remove Fordo: US-made 30,000 pounds bombs. This bomb, also known as “bunker buster”, is capable of burying through rock and steel before exploding.
key features:
- Length: 20 feet
- weight: 30,000 pounds
- Carrier: Only American B -2 stealth bomber can carry it
- Objective: Destroy deep, stronghold bunkers like Fordow
But there is a grip: Israel does not have. The United States has consistently denied the requests of Israel for the bomb, citing apprehension that its use can provoke a full -scale regional war.Former US Central Command Chief General Joseph Votal said, “We have a longer policy for not providing Israel because we did not want them to use them.”
What can Israel do instead?
While Israel lacks bunker buster or heavy bombers, to give it, it is not given on options:
- Largeting power infrastructure: A possible strategy is to disable the operations, temporarily disabled to operate power generation and transmission systems around the Fordo.
- Ceiling entrance: Attack equipment on the access points of the underground complex can implicate equipment and personnel, making parts of the feature useless.
- Insert of special forces: A bold but dangerous option includes Israeli commandos that infiltrate the convenience, plant explosives, and vandalize it from within. Israel had allegedly flown such schemes for the Obama administration years ago.
- Hawaii Supremeness Strategy: With temporarily acquiring air dominance on large health of Iran near Israel, it can disrupt Fordo and activities, although it will not eliminate the facility.
“Israelis have recently tossed a lot of cladstine operations,” said former Commander General of US Central Command, former Commander General Kennethi McKenzie Jr. said. “But the physics of the problem is the same.”
Will there be a step in America?
While the US has moved aircraft and fuel tankers to the region, there is no indication that US President Donald Trump is ready to transfer the US policy for a long time and provide Israel with bombs. Officials have warned that deploying it will involve complex coordination and will risk significant collateral and geopolitical results.“If we use bunker buster, nuclear contamination may occur,” said General Votile. He said, “I think it would certainly pay attention to the idea that the United States joined Israel, which would be seen as an illegal attack on Iran’s sovereignty.”
Why the bets are so high
Fordow is not just a physical challenge – it is a political. An Israeli strike on the site, especially with American participation, can trigger Iranian vengeance against American property in the Middle East and immersed the region into another war.Iran insisted that its atomic program is peaceful and remains a signator for the Nuclear Non -Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But with the rise in enrichment levels and increasing regional threats, international concern over Fordow is increasing.Fordow symbolizes nuclear deadlock between Iran and its opponents. For Israel, it represents its traditional access boundaries. For the US, it is a geopolitical tripwire. And for Iran, it remains a will for strategic foresight in front of existent hazards. What happens or not – or does not do – can shape the course of history in Fordow.
