Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment facility, buried deep beneath a mountain and encased in reinforced rock, is now regarded by U.S. and Israeli officials as the regime's most fortified nuclear site, according to intelligence shared with The New York Times. The facility has emerged as the centerpiece of Iran’s strategic deterrence, especially amid growing tensions following a recent IAEA censure.

The Fordow plant, once central to negotiations during the 2015 nuclear deal, has been quietly modernized and expanded. It now houses increasingly advanced centrifuges and is the likely location for Iran's latest upgrades following threats to retaliate against the IAEA resolution.

Nearly Immune to Airstrikes

What makes Fordow unique is its sheer depth—buried under a mountain near Qom, it is surrounded by natural defenses and sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems. U.S. analysts say only specialized bunker-busting bombs, potentially including new-generation ordnance, would be able to reach its core.

Israeli military officials, according to the report, have flagged Fordow as a likely target in any first-wave strike scenario. Yet the risk of triggering a wider regional war has made direct attacks unlikely—for now.

Strategic Escalation and Diplomacy at Crossroads

Fordow’s transformation underscores the narrowing window for diplomacy. With Iran refusing to roll back its enrichment beyond 60% and now threatening to introduce faster centrifuges at secure sites like Fordow, Western powers are scrambling to prevent a crisis.

Ongoing talks in Oman between the U.S. and Iran are viewed as a last-ditch attempt to avert escalation. Failure could solidify Fordow not just as a nuclear asset—but as a flashpoint for conflict.