What’s Known About Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Site, And Why It’s Controversial

Fordo, revealed to the public in 2009, is Iran’s second-most-prominent nuclear enrichment facility, whose construction began in the early 2000s. Located near the city of Qom, in central Iran, it has been a source of regular controversy between Iran, Israel, the United States and other countries.

Begins With JCPOA

• In 2015, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) or Iran-United States nuclear deal was signed between Iran and six other powerful nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany, in exchange for sanctions relief to Iran. Iran agreed under the deal to repurpose the Fordo plant for research purposes—but the agreement ended with US President Donald Trump reneging on the JCPOA in 2018.

• After the United States walked out of the nuclear deal with Iran, it declared it was free to enrich its uranium stock beyond the 3.6 per cent mandated under the agreement. This became a source of controversy as the United States claims Iran is close to reaching weapons-grade enrichment of uranium at Fordo, something Iran denies.

Iran’s Enrichment Capabilities

• An enrichment facility can produce fuel for nuclear power plants as well as weapons, if the enrichment reaches 90 per cent. Iran is said to be capable of 60 per cent enrichment. This is considered a ‘highly enriched’ level, and it means that the ‘breakout time’—the time needed to produce nuclear weapons is progressively shortening.

• Other than its presumed and known enrichment capabilities, Fordo is also controversial because of its location and structural design. It is located deep underground, with reports claiming depths of 80 to 200 feet, a wide range that adds to the mystery surrounding the site. It is said to be heavily fortified and ring-fenced by anti-missile weapons, which make it less vulnerable to military attacks.

• The location and enrichment level, combined with apparent secrecy, have raised suspicion at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the Fordo plant is a matter of concern for the international community. As a result, short of reviving the JCPOA or Iran-US nuclear agreement, the route to thwarting Iran’s potential nuclear ambitions is widely seen by its detractors as targeting its nuclear facilities, including Fordo.

No Nuclear Deal, But Attacks Proposed

However, the deep underground location of the facility raises questions about how it can be targeted. The only viable option is said to be the so-called bunker-buster bombs manufactured in the United States by Northrop Grumman. The GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb is bulky enough to require a B-2 stealth bomber aircraft to lift it and deliver it to any target. The use of B-2 bombers, also owned by the United States, and ‘bunker-blasters’ would imply immediate involvement of the United States in the conflict, firmly against Iran and on the side of Israel. But United States President Donald Trump has vacillated over this at a June 2025 G-7 meeting

• What complicates matters is that Iran has repeatedly emphasised that its nuclear technology development is meant for peaceful purposes. The fact that Fordo is located in a remote mountainous area has fuelled speculation about Iran’s capabilities, while the country stresses its right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, especially in the medical field.