Israel’s alarm over Iran’s Fordow fuel enrichment site has reached a fever pitch. This escalation follows the announcement of their new, previously undisclosed third enrichment site. The underground facility’s depth poses challenges for potential military strikes, raising alarms among Israeli officials about the implications for regional security.
Mohammad Eslami, Iran’s nuclear chief, has acknowledged the location of the new enrichment facility. The first of this new class of facilities, this site is poised to move quickly once it acquires the required equipment. This new enrichment development is particularly concerning in light of Iran’s intention to replace its first-generation enrichment machines with new sixth-generation models at Fordow. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently stated that it could no longer guarantee that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. This unexpected development amplifies international anxiety about the situation.
Israeli leaders have made clear their willingness to conduct a pre-emptive strike against Iran’s nuclear program, Fordow included. They convey great conviction in how well they know the site’s plan. They think this understanding will backstop any future military intervention. David Albright, president of the Institute for Science and International Security, put the focus on Fordow. He highlighted its pivotal part in furthering Iran’s nuclear goals.
“Israel believes that past Iranian deceit makes military action the only certain way to remove the threat of Iran acquiring a nuclear bomb,” said Albright. Israeli strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and Mossad intelligence agency head David Barnea agree. They are threatening to meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva before the Oman-brokered nuclear negotiations. Fordow will surely dominate the headlines, but Congress will need to consider what this means and how to address Israeli security concerns.
Iranian officials have characterized U.S. calls for Iran to refrain from enriching uranium at Fordow as excessive demands. President Masoud Pezeshkian categorically ruled out any Iranian retreat on this issue. He even announced their legal right to extract wealth from the establishment. This latest confrontation highlights the increased volatility of Iran’s nuclear program and ambitions.
The persistent cycle has led to sharp responses from the United States. Meanwhile, as US officials have begun to evacuate personnel from Tier 1 embassies and bases across the Middle East, this development is causing some to speculate about an impending military strike on Fordow as tensions continue to escalate. Even former President Donald Trump admitted that an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program is “maybe going to happen.” He added, “We remain committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!”
Trump emphasized the importance of diplomacy, stating, “My entire Administration has been directed to negotiate with Iran. They could be a Great Country, but they first must completely give up hopes of obtaining a Nuclear Weapon.” He expressed concern about the safety of American personnel in the region, urging for timely evacuations: “We have a lot of American people in this area. And I said we have to tell them to get out soon.”
Amid these developments, US and European powers issued a joint statement underscoring that “It is not the board that is forcing this step on Iran, but Iran who is forcing this step on the board.” That statement makes clear that there is bipartisan concern about Iran’s advancing nuclear program and the threat it poses to regional stability.