Overview

• The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant lies roughly 300 feet underground near Qom and hosts about 2,000 centrifuges enriching uranium to 60 percent.
• Israel’s bombing campaign since June 12 has damaged multiple Iranian nuclear and military facilities but left Fordow intact and operational.
• Options under U.S. consideration include deploying the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, mounting a special forces raid or collapsing air shafts to disable the plant.
• The IAEA has not confirmed that Iran is building a nuclear weapon and notes enrichment activities resumed at Fordow after the U.S. exit from the JCPOA in 2018.
• Iran’s government says it will not negotiate until Israel halts its strikes and warns any U.S. attack could trigger serious repercussions.