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Sydney Morning Herald
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Mapping the Israel-Iran conflict: Where key nuclear sites, targets and United States military bases lie
Establishing the extent of the damage to key Iranian nuclear sites is challenging not just due to the repeated Israeli strikes targeting them, but also because both sides are supplying contrasting assessments on the success of the Israeli operation. Loading South of Tehran lies the Natanz nuclear facility, a complex at the heart of Iran's enrichment program that houses facilities including two enrichment plants: the underground Fuel Enrichment Plant and above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. The Fordow enrichment facility is also south of Tehran, and is notably underground, making it harder to successfully hit. Further south, on the outskirts of Isfahan, Iran's second-largest city, is a large nuclear technology centre that includes the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant and uranium conversion and storage facilities. On the Gulf Coast is the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant and uses Russian fuel that Russia takes back once it is spent. Further north, in addition to Tehran's nuclear research reactor, is the partially built heavy-water research reactor in Khondab, which Iran previously informed the International Atomic Energy Agency it had planned to start operating in 2026. Why is Iran's Fordow nuclear base a target? Dug deep into a mountain near Qom is the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is one of Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear sites, built in secrecy and designed for survivability. Loading It was exposed through Western intelligence in 2009, and its capacity to enrich uranium levels close to weapons-grade is what alarms the superpowers and makes it critical to Iran's nuclear program. In 2023, according to the IAEA, uranium enriched to a purity of 83.7 per cent was found at Fordow. Nuclear weapons need an enrichment level of 90 per cent. The fact that Fordow was designed as a fallback facility should other nuclear sites be compromised makes it a key stronghold for Iran, and a prime target for Israel – but it's understood Israel would be hard-pressed to destroy it without help from the US. Why does Israel need the United States' assistance to target Fordow? Fordow's underground nuclear facilities are understood to be 80 to 90 metres beneath the mountain's surface. It's impenetrable, even if Israel used the most advanced 'bunker buster' bombs in its arsenal for targeted aerial strikes. The 13,608-kilogram GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is thought to be the only 'bunker buster' bomb that could reach the core buried below Fordow's surface, though that would still be likely to require multiple strikes. Loading Capable of burrowing through 60 metres of steel and rock before detonating, it was developed by the United States and is its largest non-nuclear bomb. Israel has requested it from the US, and the request has been denied multiple times. Only a B2 Stealth Bomber could carry the bomb due to its sheer size. How large is the United States' military presence in the Middle East? Iran has said it would target the United States' military bases in the Middle East should Trump enter the conflict on Israel's side in earnest. The United States has a significant military presence in the Middle East, with, per the Council on Foreign Relations, a broad network of sites spanning at least 19 locations, eight of which are permanent. Loading The permanent United States sites are understood to be in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since October 7, 2023, several attacks purportedly by Iran-backed forces have occurred. Notably, in January 2024, three American soldiers were killed after a drone hit the Tower 22 military base in Jordan, near the Syrian border.
The Age
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Mapping the Israel-Iran conflict: Where key nuclear sites, targets and United States military bases lie
Establishing the extent of the damage to key Iranian nuclear sites is challenging not just due to the repeated Israeli strikes targeting them, but also because both sides are supplying contrasting assessments on the success of the Israeli operation. Loading South of Tehran lies the Natanz nuclear facility, a complex at the heart of Iran's enrichment program that houses facilities including two enrichment plants: the underground Fuel Enrichment Plant and above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. The Fordow enrichment facility is also south of Tehran, and is notably underground, making it harder to successfully hit. Further south, on the outskirts of Isfahan, Iran's second-largest city, is a large nuclear technology centre that includes the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant and uranium conversion and storage facilities. On the Gulf Coast is the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant and uses Russian fuel that Russia takes back once it is spent. Further north, in addition to Tehran's nuclear research reactor, is the partially built heavy-water research reactor in Khondab, which Iran previously informed the International Atomic Energy Agency it had planned to start operating in 2026. Why is Iran's Fordow nuclear base a target? Dug deep into a mountain near Qom is the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is one of Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear sites, built in secrecy and designed for survivability. Loading It was exposed through Western intelligence in 2009, and its capacity to enrich uranium levels close to weapons-grade is what alarms the superpowers and makes it critical to Iran's nuclear program. In 2023, according to the IAEA, uranium enriched to a purity of 83.7 per cent was found at Fordow. Nuclear weapons need an enrichment level of 90 per cent. The fact that Fordow was designed as a fallback facility should other nuclear sites be compromised makes it a key stronghold for Iran, and a prime target for Israel – but it's understood Israel would be hard-pressed to destroy it without help from the US. Why does Israel need the United States' assistance to target Fordow? Fordow's underground nuclear facilities are understood to be 80 to 90 metres beneath the mountain's surface. It's impenetrable, even if Israel used the most advanced 'bunker buster' bombs in its arsenal for targeted aerial strikes. The 13,608-kilogram GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is thought to be the only 'bunker buster' bomb that could reach the core buried below Fordow's surface, though that would still be likely to require multiple strikes. Loading Capable of burrowing through 60 metres of steel and rock before detonating, it was developed by the United States and is its largest non-nuclear bomb. Israel has requested it from the US, and the request has been denied multiple times. Only a B2 Stealth Bomber could carry the bomb due to its sheer size. How large is the United States' military presence in the Middle East? Iran has said it would target the United States' military bases in the Middle East should Trump enter the conflict on Israel's side in earnest. The United States has a significant military presence in the Middle East, with, per the Council on Foreign Relations, a broad network of sites spanning at least 19 locations, eight of which are permanent. Loading The permanent United States sites are understood to be in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since October 7, 2023, several attacks purportedly by Iran-backed forces have occurred. Notably, in January 2024, three American soldiers were killed after a drone hit the Tower 22 military base in Jordan, near the Syrian border.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Xinhua Middle East news summary at 2200 GMT, June 17
JERUSALEM -- Israel said on Tuesday it had launched another wave of airstrikes in Iran and was determined to press ahead with its military campaign, now in its fifth day. Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin said Iranian forces had been pushed toward the center of the country as a result of sustained Israeli airstrikes. (Israel-Iran-Airstrikes) - - - - TEHRAN -- Two loud explosions were heard in central and northern Tehran on Tuesday, local eyewitnesses reported, as Israel continued its bombardment of the Iranian capital for a fifth consecutive day. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on social media platform X that Iran's Natanz site, which contains the Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, was hit amid Israeli strikes. (Iran-Israeli Attacks-Explosions) - - - - JERUSALEM -- Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Israel is not engaged in any negotiations with Iran to halt the deadly aerial conflict that began with a large-scale Israeli strike on Friday. "We are not engaged in any negotiations, and we will not allow harm to Israeli civilians," Katz told reporters during a visit to Herzliya, a coastal city north of Tel Aviv, where a missile fired from Iran struck earlier. (Iran-Israel-Negotiations) - - - - RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa said on Tuesday that the escalation between Iran and Israel should not distract attention from the Israeli "aggression" against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. During a phone call with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Mustafa noted the importance of maintaining international momentum toward the Gaza Strip and not diverting focus from ending the war in the coastal enclave, allowing the entry of relief and humanitarian aid, and opening the crossings, according to a statement issued by his office. (Palestine-Israeli Aggression-Gaza)
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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Israel-Iran conflict: What happens when a nuclear facility is attacked?
The Israelis have claimed that they seriously damaged the Natanz nuclear facility – Iran's main enrichment facility, which is around 225 kilometres south of Tehran. The Iranians had claimed that Israel also attacked its facilities in Fordow and Isfahan. But what happens when a nuclear facility is attacked? What do experts say could be the fallout? read more Israel has claimed it has seriously damaged Iran's Natanz nuclear site . Reuters Many were alarmed after Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities. The Israelis have claimed that they seriously damaged the Natanz nuclear facility – the country's main enrichment facility which is around 225 kilometres south of Tehran. The Iranians had claimed that Israel also attacked its facilities in Fordow and Isfahan. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Mariano Grossi is said to have told Israeli President Isaac Herzog that the Natanz facility was 'seriously damaged'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, authorities, both Iranian and the IAEA, have denied that there is a radiation leak or a chemical contamination locally. But what happens when a nuclear site is attacked? What sites have been hit in Iran? What's the damage? Let's take a closer look What happens when a nuclear site is attacked? According to the website of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, it depends on many things. Firstly, whether the reactor itself is attacked or the fuel pool. The nuclear facility size and the age are also factors to consider. A strike on the facility could result in the reactor being destroyed – which could trigger a meltdown in its core. While the reactors are usually well protected, nearby areas like fuel pools may be vulnerable. A fuel pool catching on fire could release Cesium-137 – which can result in burns, radiation sickness and even death to those exposed. Cesium-137 from such an incident could conceivably cause be much worse than the Chernobyl and Fukushima incidents – both of which involved reactor cores. Even a small nuclear bomb hitting a reactor could be catastrophic for humanity. All the Cesium-137 in the reactor core and spent fuel pools would come gushing out into the environment – tens of millions of curies. Every million curies results in around 2,000 square kilometres becoming unfit for humanity to live in. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And there's more. The Cesium-137 would now be carried as far as the wind takes it and deposited across the land. Any person exposed to it would get a dose of full-body radiation and gamma radiation. Water and food would also be exposed – resulting in cancers and health issues, as per the website. What sites have been hit? What's the damage? Natanz, which is in the holy city of Qom, comprises the underground commercial Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) and the above ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP). The facility, which is 2.7 square kilometres wide, can hold up to 50,000 centrifuges. Both the Iranian authorities and the IAEA say the damage to the Natanz nuclear site was limited to the over ground enrichment building. Grossi in a statement said, 'At Natanz, the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, where Iran was producing uranium enriched up to 60% U-235, has been destroyed. Electricity infrastructure at the facility (electrical sub-station, main electric power supply building, emergency power supply and back-up generators) has been destroyed. There is no indication of a physical attack on the underground cascade hall containing part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the main Fuel Enrichment Plant. However, the loss of power to the cascade hall may have damaged the centrifuges there.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD More importantly, the IAEA has said that there is no change in the radiation levels around Natanz – nor is there any indication of a local contamination. A satellite image shows the Fordow nuclear facility in Iran, January 24, 2025. Maxar Technologies via Reuters The IAEA has said that the Isfahan uranium conversion facility has been 'seriously damaged'. They said this could s eriously impact Iran's nuclear programme. If you interrupt that piece of the flow-sheet, the fuel cycle doesn't work anymore,' Bloomberg quoted Robert Kelley, a US nuclear engineer who led inspections for the IAEA in Iraq and Libya, as saying. 'The front end of their program dies.' The damage at Fordow fuel enrichment plant remains unclear. 'It has always been the conventional wisdom that Israel may not have the ordnance to destroy Fordo without American military support,' Mark Dubowitz, head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, told Times of Israel. Nuclear expert David Albright at the Institute for Science and International Security added, 'We can't see any visible damage at Fordow or Isfahan. There was damage at Natanz but there's no evidence that the underground site was destroyed'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
