Exposed: A Peek from Space into Iran's Secretive Fordo Nuclear Facility
Aerial view unveils the clandestine design of the Fordo nuclear site.
Ever wondered what lies beneath the desolate mountain range south of Tehran? That's right, my friend! We're talking about the heavily guarded, highly secretive Fordo nuclear facility. Suspicious tunnel entrances, deep in the earth, lead you on a journey into the heart of the mullah regime's alleged atomic bomb construction. Let's take a closer look at what satellite imagery reveals.
Israel has been actively striking military and nuclear sites in Iran since June 13, with the heavily fortified Fordo facility gaining significant attention. Located around 90 kilometers south of Tehran in a remote, barren region, this subterranean facility has been constructed over the years and is under constant scrutiny from various intelligence agencies, especially Israel.
On high-resolution satellite images, you can spot numerous interesting details:
The area around the city of Ghom shows dark hills rising from the arid landscape. The underground facility, built at approximately 900 meters above sea level, hides within this mountain range.
The entire facility is enveloped by several security rings, accessible only via a single access road from the northwest. Any vehicles approaching the area need to pass through multiple guarded checkpoints. The site itself is fortified with air defense positions, trenches, watchtowers, fences, and multiple layered security rings.
The extremely expensive security measures suggest clandestine intentions. The satellite image reveals an area around 3.5 kilometers wide. The inner security area of the uranium enrichment facility in Fordo with its six tunnel entrances can be clearly seen. Two pairs of entrance gates are near a distinctive white building in the west of the area. Another tunnel entrance opens about 500 meters from there towards the northeast. The sixth entrance to the deep bunkers of Fordo is located at the eastern edge of the inner security ring.
The white building, approximately 140 meters long and 40 meters wide, has a well-developed and frequently used access road reaching the entrance from the northeast. Even individual lights on the illuminated access road can be observed on the satellite image upon closer examination. Another fence encircles the white building.
Protective fences protect the tunnel entrances located further northeast, as well as the individual access points in the north and east. It is thought that, despite all precautions, the Iranians fear attacks by sabotage teams and have taken measures to stop infiltrated agents inside the facility.
Deep within the mountain, hidden beneath the facility, shafts, halls, and bunkers wind through the rock. International Atomic Energy Agency inspections have confirmed that the Tehran regime has buried an entire uranium enrichment factory there. It is possible that additional supply accesses exist that are better concealed from satellites.
At Fordo, around 2000 centrifuges were in operation, with the facility producing the majority of Iran's uranium enriched up to 60%. In the last quarter, this amounted to 166.6 kilograms, according to IAEA calculations. Such an amount, if further enriched, is believed to be enough for nearly four nuclear bombs. The pilot plant in Natans, on the other hand, produced only 19.2 kilograms. Israel has so far spared the Fordo facility from all attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the Israeli military has the capability to attack all of Iran’s nuclear facilities, including the deep, well-protected Fordo facility.
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Insight:
- Fordo is one of Iran's three key nuclear sites, playing a crucial role in its uranium enrichment infrastructure and nuclear program resilience.
- Fordo houses thousands of advanced IR-6 centrifuges capable of enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels, making it a critical site in Iran's nuclear program.
- The site is deeply buried beneath a mountain, offering substantial natural protection from aerial attacks, and is protected by thick concrete and sophisticated missile defense systems, though many of these have been degraded by recent Israeli strikes.
The community policy could prohibit any discussion or sharing of confidential information regarding Iran's secretive nuclear facilities like Fordo, given the sensitive nature of the topic.
Employment policies of intelligence agencies might include specialized training programs for analysts to interpret satellite imagery detailing sites such as the heavily protected Fordo nuclear facility in Iran, where sports and leisure activities are unlikely to be part of their duties.
