Why can't Israel destroy Iran's uranium kept 90 meters under the ground despite its military might?
New Delhi: Israel has been hell bent on destroying Iran for the last 4 days. Iran also retaliated strongly and blew up many buildings in the capital Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israel destroyed many targets on the ground in Iran, but the 'real targets' inside the ground have not been harmed. Some such indications have been found in the satellite pictures that came after the attack.
Despite all the threats and destruction, Iran has not stopped its nuclear programme till now. In fact, all the nuclear centers of Iran are on Israel's target. But even after firing missiles at Fordo, it has not been able to reach Iran's 'safe house'. It suspects that Iran is secretly enriching nuclear weapons at Fordo. Iran has built this hideout at such a secure place that it is almost impossible for Israeli missiles to reach there. It is said that Fordo Nuclear Center is 20 miles away from Qom city, inside a hill, 90 meters below the ground. This Iranian nuclear center is extremely safe.
It was in 2009 that the world came to know about Fordo plant after the intelligence of countries like America and France told the world about it. Netanyahu's eyes are now on this hideout. But even after knowing, he cannot cause any damage to this hideout. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also been keeping an eye on this center which is Iran's second largest center of uranium enrichment.
Israeli news website Jerusalem Post, citing an IAEA report, has claimed that there is uranium with purity up to 60% at two places in Iran. If it is further enriched, then six nuclear bombs can be made from it. What makes Fordo almost indestructible?
Israel has bunker busters like GBU-28 and GBU-31 that can penetrate concrete up to a depth of about 6–10 meters. But to destroy Fordo, a bomb that can penetrate up to 61 meters is needed, which only America's GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) can do. America can destroy Fordo by dropping GBU-57 MOP bombs from its B-2 bomber, but politically it does not want to get involved in this conflict.
Apart from this, Fordo is a symbol of Iran's strategic prestige and ideology. It is under the tight security of IRGC with air defense systems like S-300, underground tunnels, multi-layer shields and electronic jamming systems. To destroy it, it will have to be attacked simultaneously at many levels, and that too repeatedly.
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