Has Israel's attack on Iran failed? Fordow nuclear fuel enrichment plant untouched

Time of India

13-06-2025

Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facilities but misses Fordow site
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Fordow's fortified structure makes it Iran's most secure nuclear site
Fordow's role in Iran's nuclear deterrence strategy
Israel's strategy falls short without neutralizing Fordow
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Israel launched a large-scale military operation on June 13, 2025, against Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, military leaders, and scientists in an attempt to degrade Tehran's nuclear program. Dubbed Operation Rising Lion , the strikes hit the Natanz enrichment plant and killed high-profile figures, including former Atomic Energy Organization head Fereydoun Abbasi and physicist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi.Hossein Salami, Commander in Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who was a target in the Stuxnet virus attack in 2007 by Israel and US was killed in the June 13 attack, with confirmation from Iranian TV updates.Also read: Stocks sell off, oil surges as Israel strikes Iran However, Israel's most critical objective, the destruction of the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP), was missed, leaving Iran's nuclear capabilities largely intact.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the operation aimed to 'roll back the Iranian threat' by targeting enrichment facilities, scientists, and missile programs. Yet, Fordow's survival means Iran retains a hardened, underground site capable of producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), a key hurdle in dismantling its nuclear ambitions.Buried deep inside a mountain near Qom, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant has long been a focal point of Western concerns over Iran's nuclear program. Designed to hold 3,000 centrifuges, Fordow's small scale, just 6 per cent of Natanz's capacity, makes it ill-suited for civilian fuel production but ideal for covert HEU enrichment.Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran repurposed Fordow as a research center. However, in 2023, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered undeclared modifications for HEU production. By March 2023, inspectors found uranium enriched to 83.7 per cent purity, close to weapons-grade levels.Also read: Trump had warned of 'something big' in the Middle East hours before Israel's strikes on Iran Despite Israel's recent strikes, Fordow's untouched status means Iran can quickly resume high-level enrichment if needed.While Israel successfully struck Natanz, the damage may be temporary. Natanz, Iran's largest enrichment site, has faced multiple attacks in the past, including sabotage and cyber operations, yet Tehran has consistently rebuilt its capabilities. The IAEA confirmed the June 13 strike but reported no radiation leaks, suggesting swift recoverability.Experts argue that without disabling Fordow, Iran's nuclear program faces no existential threat. 'Fordow's mountain-shielded infrastructure makes it nearly invulnerable to airstrikes,' said a former US nonproliferation official. 'As long as it operates, Iran maintains a breakout option.'Tehran has long framed Fordow as a "deterrent" against attacks on its nuclear program. The facility's location on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base and its fortified design underscore its strategic role. Analysts suggest Fordow's existence complicates military calculations, as destroying Natanz alone would not cripple enrichment capabilities.Also read: Israel strikes Iran's nuclear sites as hinted by Trump, declares state of 'emergency' Iran's foreign ministry condemned Israel's strikes as "adventurism" and warned of retaliation. However, with Fordow still operational, Tehran retains leverage in any future negotiations or conflicts.Israel's operation highlights a recurring flaw in efforts to halt Iran's nuclear progress: Fordow's immunity. Past attacks on Natanz and assassinations of scientists have delayed but not stopped enrichment. Until Fordow is neutralized, Iran's path to a bomb remains viable.Also read: Trump to attend security meeting on Friday after Israeli strikes on Iran Netanyahu's claim that Iran was 'months away' from a weapon underscores the urgency, but without targeting Fordow, Israel's strike may only buy time rather than deliver a decisive blow. As the IAEA monitors Fordow's ongoing activity, the world watches whether Israel or its allies will risk a more direct confrontation with Iran's most secure facility.1. Why is Iran's Fordow nuclear facility considered so important?The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant is Iran's most fortified nuclear site, located deep within a mountain near Qom. It is capable of enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels and is heavily shielded against airstrikes, making it central to Iran's nuclear breakout potential.2. Did Israel's June 13, 2025, airstrike on Iran damage the Fordow nuclear plant?No, Israel's June 13, 2025, attack did not hit the Fordow nuclear facility. While the strike targeted other sites such as Natanz and resulted in the deaths of top Iranian nuclear scientists, Fordow remained operational, limiting the strike's long-term effectiveness.3. What nuclear sites in Iran were targeted by Israel in 2025?In the 2025 attack, Israel reportedly targeted the Natanz uranium enrichment facility and struck military and scientific personnel involved in Iran's nuclear program. However, the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, Iran's most secure site, was not hit.4. Can Iran still build a nuclear weapon with Fordow intact?Yes, experts believe that as long as the Fordow plant remains active, Iran retains a critical path to developing highly enriched uranium. Its underground design and resistance to military strikes make it a persistent challenge for nuclear nonproliferation efforts.