Aerial view of concealed nuclear installation in Fordo.
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Exposed: Iran's Hidden Nuclear Facility at Fordo - A Closer Look
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Tucked away in a barren mountainous region south of Tehran, this covert operation has raised concerns worldwide. Underneath the desolate terrain, the Islamic Republic of Iran is reportedly accelerating the development of atomic bombs within the hidden lair of Fordo. Here's what satellite photographs reveal.
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Israel has been waging a campaign against military and atomic sites in Iran since June 13, including uranium enrichment facilities, and Fordo has been under scrutiny. Western intelligence agencies suspect Iran is secretly constructing the epicenter of its nuclear program beneath the earth within the confines of a labyrinth of tunnels in Fordo.
The satellite imagery offers numerous insightful details.
Fordo's Fearsome Fortifications
Built in recent years in the vicinity of Ghom, this extensive underground facility is not only a cause for suspicion among the Israeli intelligence community but also gives indications of military objectives. The construction site is nestled far from any human settlements, located deep within the desolate, uninhabited wilderness.
Inner Security Zone
The entire facility is ringed by multiple layers of security barriers, with a solitary access route leading to Fordo from the northwest. Every vehicle approaching the area must clear several guarded checkpoints. Noteworthy features surrounding the site include air defense positions, trenches, observation posts, fences, and numerous staggered security rings.
The Heart of Iran's Atomic Venture
The satellite image above showcases an area approximately 3.5 kilometers wide. The inner security area of the uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, with its six tunnel entrances, is distinguishable. Two tunnel access points are grouped near the striking white building to the west, with another entrance approximately 500 meters away towards the northeast. The sixth entrance to the underground caverns of Fordo is situated at the eastern edge of the inner security ring.
The building with the white rooftop is prominent and measures roughly 140 meters in length and 40 meters in width. A well-developed access road stretches towards the entrance from the northeast. The Iranians seem prepared for around-the-clock operations, as the individual lights of the illuminated access road can be observed on the satellite imagery.
Protective fences encircle the tunnel entrances situated further northeast, as well as the individual access points in the north and east. One possible explanation for these precautions could be that the Iranians fear infiltration by sabotage squads and have taken steps to impede their progress inside the facility.
Secrets Beneath the Mountain's Veil
Deep below the soil, an intricate network of tunnels, hallways, and bunkers penetrates the rock. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has previously inspected the site and reported that Iran has buried an entire uranium enrichment factory beneath it. It's possible that additional hidden access points to the facility exist, shielded from aerial observation.
Experts estimate that roughly 2,000 centrifuges were operational within Fordo's enrichment plant at the last count. Despite its protection from aerial attacks, the base is said to have produced over 80% of the uranium enriched to 60% by Iran. In the last quarter, this amounted to approximately 166.6 kilograms, according to IAEA estimations. Such an amount, if further refined, could potentially provide the materials necessary to construct nearly four nuclear bombs.
Netanyahu: "We'll Keep Going"
Less than a week after the commencement of Operation "Rising Lion," Israeli fighter jets also targeted the Iranian heavy water reactor in Chondab. Footage from Israeli military sources shows several precision bombs striking the reactor's concrete dome during the attack.
The air raid on the Chondab nuclear facilities left considerable damage to the reactor's concrete shield. High-resolution satellite images taken shortly after the bombing clearly depict signs of impact on the reactor's protective covering.
The heavy water reactor at Chondab has previously been known by its previous largest city's name, Arak, but Iranian authorities renamed it in 2017. The nuclear power plant did not formally start operations, as the regime in Tehran had committed to halting work on the reactor as part of international nuclear dispute resolutions.
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In contrast to the minor visible damage observed at Fordo, significant damage was evident at Natanz. As shown in before-and-after high-resolution satellite images, the deep underground location likely played a role in Fordo's resilience to Israeli airstrikes, with no reported radiation leaks following the attacks, according to the IAEA.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the air raids against Iran's nuclear facilities. During a recent interview, the prime minister stated, "We have the capability to do it." The Israeli military possesses the ability to reach all of Iran's nuclear facilities, he added.
Source: ntv.de, mmo
Key Details
- Fordo is an underground uranium enrichment plant located approximately 30 kilometers north of Qom, Iran. It was constructed starting in 2006 and publicly disclosed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2009 after Western intelligence detected it[3].
- The facility has been used for advanced uranium enrichment. In 2019, Iran installed advanced IR-6 centrifuges at Fordo, which can enrich uranium to higher purities more quickly than older models[1].
- In early 2023, IAEA inspectors discovered uranium particles at Fordo enriched nearly to 84% purity, nearing the 90% weapons-grade level required for a nuclear weapon.
- Fordo sustained only minor visible damage compared to more significant damage at Natanz, following Israeli airstrikes as part of Operation Rising Lion in mid-2025. The deep underground location likely contributed to its resilience[2][3].
- No radiation leaks were reported following the strikes at Fordo, according to the IAEA[2][3].
- The community is debating the potential implications of the exposed Iranian nuclear facility at Fordo, with concerns about its employment policy regarding the production of nuclear weapons and the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts.
- General news outlets are reporting on the continued Israeli air raids against Iran's nuclear facilities, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts the need for a strong employment policy in defense sectors to counter Iran's covert operations, such as the one at Fordo.
