Media: Iran prepares to triple enriched uranium production

Iran's Fordow nuclear facility is undergoing a major expansion that could significantly increase its enriched uranium production, potentially tripling its output and advancing Tehran's nuclear capabilities, according to confidential documents and weapons experts.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed new construction activity at Fordow shortly after Iran notified plans for a substantial upgrade, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Washington Post.

This development comes amidst similar plans for expansion at Iran's Natanz enrichment plant, heightening tensions with Western nations and raising concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Fordow's expansion, set to install nearly 1,400 advanced centrifuges, could allow Iran to accumulate nuclear fuel at an accelerated rate, with the capacity to produce enough for several nuclear bombs monthly. The facility, shielded within a mountain, poses logistical challenges for potential airstrikes, enhancing its strategic significance.

Despite Iran's assertions of peaceful nuclear intentions, recent developments suggest otherwise. Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium has grown steadily since 2018, and the planned expansion further underscores Tehran's capability to produce fissile material suitable for nuclear weapons.

The Biden administration has responded with a warning, criticizing Iran's actions as undermining global stability and committing to appropriate responses if Iran proceeds with its plans.

Iran's current strategy involves portraying itself as a threshold nuclear power without committing to overt weaponization, a stance that offers Tehran strategic ambiguity in regional dynamics.

While Iran asserts compliance with IAEA rules, its actions defy international agreements, including the 2015 nuclear deal, from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018. The agreement aimed to restrict Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief but has faced continuous challenges.