Israeli official: Fordow nuclear site not yet hit, but remains a military option

An Israeli military official has confirmed that the country's air force has not yet struck Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, though it remains a potential target.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official stressed that Israel is taking calculated steps to prevent a nuclear catastrophe, carefully selecting targets to avoid triggering dangerous fallout, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

So far, Iran has launched approximately 400 ballistic missiles and hundreds of drones toward Israeli territory, aiming at both military infrastructure and civilian areas.

The Israeli official noted that overnight data showed a noticeable decline in the volume of attacks—evidence, he claimed, of the Israeli Air Force's success in degrading Iran’s missile-launching capabilities.

“The reduction in firepower is a direct result of our precision strikes,” the official said, hinting that further escalatory moves—possibly including Fordow—remain under consideration if threats persist.

To recall, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), located near the Iranian city of Qom, is one of Iran’s most sensitive and fortified nuclear facilities. Built deep within a mountain to shield it from potential airstrikes, Fordow was revealed publicly by Western intelligence in 2009. It is operated by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Fordow was originally intended for research purposes but has since played a key role in uranium enrichment.

The facility contains IR-1 and advanced centrifuges, enriching uranium up to 60% purity—close to weapons-grade, which is 90%—raising concerns among Western nations.

Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), enrichment at Fordow was prohibited, and the facility was to be converted for peaceful research. However, Iran resumed enrichment there following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018.

In May 2023, the IAEA reported that Iran had made significant changes at Fordow, including the installation of new centrifuge cascades. The site remains under IAEA monitoring, but inspectors have raised concerns over a lack of full transparency.

Given its depth and strategic importance, any potential strike on Fordow would pose risks of regional escalation and environmental contamination.

By Aghakazim Guliyev