On Monday, both Israeli and Iranian media reported that Israel conducted airstrikes on the Fordow nuclear facility, located south of Tehran, following a U.S. strike on a secret underground site over the weekend.
“The attackers targeted the Fordow nuclear site again,” an Iranian spokesperson from QOM’s Crisis Management Bureau stated, according to reports from Tasnim News Agency.
The Jerusalem Post noted that Israeli forces confirmed the strike on Fordow, clarifying that the objective was to “disrupt access routes” to prevent the removal of enriched nuclear materials and equipment.
In a post on social media, former President Trump hailed the U.S. strike as causing “monumental damage” to Iran’s nuclear installations. He emphasized that the most significant destruction occurred underground, stating it was a “bullseye.”
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt expressed confidence in the efficacy of the U.S. military action, stating that the administration believed the sites had been substantially destroyed, as Trump suggested in his address to the nation.
However, satellite images and evaluations from international agencies have raised doubts about the actual extent of the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
The UN’s nuclear watchdog reported that the bombing likely caused “very serious” damage, but further testing is needed to ascertain the full impact. Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), mentioned that it’s currently impossible for anyone, including the IAEA, to fully assess the underground damage at Fordow. He expects significant destruction, given the explosive power used and the sensitivity of the centrifuges involved.
Iranian officials, on the other hand, were working on an assessment of the bombing’s effects. According to reports, Hassan Abedini, deputy director of Iran’s state broadcasting, claimed during a broadcast that Iran had not been severely affected, noting that they were already prepared for such attacks.
Fordow has become a pivotal point in the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, especially as the U.S. considers further military support for Israel in its efforts to undermine Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Independent analyses based on the latest IAEA report suggest Iran possesses enough centrifuges and hexafluoride gas to potentially create several nuclear weapons. A recent commentary highlighted the importance of Fordow in Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating that if Israel continues its military strategy against Iran’s nuclear program, it must ensure that the Fordow facility no longer poses a threat.
