Goal of Israeli Actions: Disruption of Iran's Nuclear Sites, Specifically Fordo Facilities
Title: The Persistent Thorn: Israel's Unsuccessful Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Sites
Fordo: The Unyielding Stronghold
Despite numerous attacks, the fortified uranium enrichment facility located near Qom, known as Fordo, hasn't been wiped out—a major concern for Israel. Ambassador Yechiel Leiter put it simply, "Fordo must go," he told Fox News. This clandestine facility is the stepping stone to a potential Iranian atomic bomb, according to Israeli reports.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unveiled that around 400 centrifuges at Fordo are spinning at supersonic speeds, producing uranium with a purity of up to 60 percent, edging closer to the level required for nuclear weapons. However, Iran maintains that it's not pursuing a nuclear arsenal. Despite this promise, Iran stands alone as the only non-nuclear-weapon-controlling nation producing such material, concerned global leaders assure us.
The IAEA estimated Iran's possession of around 409 kilograms of this uranium. To armor a nuclear warhead, experts claim around 42 kilograms of 90 percent enriched uranium would be necessary. The IAEA hinted plans to further increase production capacity at Fordo, raising more eyebrows in the international community.
Tucked away deep into a mountain, Fordo poses a considerable challenge to Israel's military, as a former high-ranking U.S. security official, Brett McGurk, pointed out on CNN. In contrast, the U.S., with its massive and precision-guided GBU-57 bunker buster, could presumably destroy Fordo, although its logistical and operational requirements for such a mission are immense.
The Wrecked Sites: Natanz and Isfahan
Iran's second enrichment facility, situated in Natanz, experienced significant damage, according to the IAEA reports. Both aboveground areas and underground sections have reported hits. The radiation contamination within the decimated facility is life-threatening, as the IAEA chief stated on Monday. Outside the site, the radiation levels are back to normal.
The Isfahan nuclear site also fell victim to the attacks. Four key facilities, including a chemistry lab, a uranium ore processing plant, a reactor fuel factory, and a construction site for a uranium metal production plant, have been harmed so far. Uranium metal is crucial not just for specific reactor types but also for weapons production.
Preconstruction Woes: Arak and Bushehr
The under-construction Arak heavy water reactor has remained untouched, as per IAEA reports. Similarly, the only Iranian nuclear power plant, located in Bushehr, has remained unscathed.
In conclusion, Israel's strikes on various Iranian nuclear sites have resulted in significant damage, yet the fortified Fordo facility persists. The complex tactical and operational challenges, coupled with the facility's heavily fortified, underground location, remain key factors hindering its neutralization.
War-and-conflicts continue to loom due to the unsuccessful Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, particularly the fortified Fordo facility, which remains operating and a cause for concern. In politics and general news, the international community closely monitors Iran's progress in uranium enrichment and its production capacity at sites like Fordo, with the IAEA estimating Iran's possession of around 409 kilograms of uranium.
