Jun 25, 2025 12:10:00

What is Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, and why are Israel and the US so determined to destroy it?

On June 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that the United States had intervened in the conflict between Israel and Iran and attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran. President Trump

announced that the facilities had been 'completely destroyed,' but CNN reports that the attack only delayed the development of nuclear weapons by a few months. One of the facilities targeted by the attack was the Fordow nuclear facility in the mountains of Iran. The Guardian and others have summarized why the United States needed to intervene.

What is Iran's Fordow nuclear site and why did Israel want a US strike? | Iran | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/22/what-is-irans-fordow-nuclear-site-and-why-was-a-us-strike-needed

Iran's Fordow Nuclear Facility: Why Israel Will Not Intervene | Iran-Israel Conflict - YouTube


The targets that President Trump claims to have attacked are Iran's three main nuclear facilities: Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow.

Fordow is suspected to be where enriched uranium is converted into nuclear bombs. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has successfully enriched uranium there to 83.7% (close to the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon), and it is seen as one of the main sites in Israel's attempts to undermine or destroy Iran's nuclear program.

Fordow has not been attacked by Israel so far, even though it is an important nuclear development facility in Iran and should be neutralized first if the goal of an Israeli attack is to thwart Iran's nuclear program. The reason Fordow has remained intact so far is because Israel lacks the ability to attack the facility and it would be difficult to do so without the help of the United States.

Fordow is built in the Iranian mountains, with its core base located 80-90 meters underground in the mountains and protected by thick bedrock. Satellite images only show five access tunnels dug into the mountain, large structures and security facilities. Because it is underground, it is not affected by any of Israel's aerial weapons, making it nearly impossible for Israel to destroy the facility from the air.

To attack this facility, the United States brought out a ground-penetrating bomb called the GBU-57. This bomb uses its weight and kinetic energy to penetrate nearly 60 meters from the ground surface and explode. Only the US's B-2 stealth bomber can drop this bomb.

Israel

reportedly asked President Trump to deploy the GBU-57. After the attack, U.S. officials said B-2 bombers were involved in the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, and President Trump announced that six GBU-57 bombs were dropped on Fordow and 30 Tomahawk missiles were fired at other nuclear facilities, including Natanz. This was reportedly the first combat use of the GBU-57.

After the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's move, saying, 'America's overwhelming and righteous power will change history. America has done what no other country on Earth has been able to do.' Meanwhile, President Trump thanked Netanyahu, noting that he had 'made great progress toward eliminating a terrible threat to Israel.'

The International Atomic Energy Agency said , 'The attack is expected to have caused very serious damage to the Fordow nuclear facility,' but according to a CNN report, even the centrifuges, which are said to be sensitive to vibrations, were almost unharmed, and there is also information that enriched uranium was removed from the facility before the attack, so it has been pointed out that the attack only delayed the development of nuclear weapons by a few months. There are also reports that 'a nuclear facility has been built 145 meters underground, deeper than Fordow,' which could pose an imminent threat to Israel.