The Fordow nuclear facility in Iran is a deep underground site where uranium fuel can be purified, and it has been the subject of international attention due to its suspected nuclear development activities. The site was originally built as a military facility for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and later converted into a nuclear site.
Israel’s recent strikes on Natanz, another Iranian nuclear site, damaged the above-ground part of Fordow but are believed to have also damaged its underground uranium enrichment capabilities. Despite this, the US has considered using its bomb, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), to destroy Fordow if necessary.
The MOP is a 13,600kg heavy bomb that can theoretically collapse Fordow’s underground bunkers. While it may be possible to use the bomb to destroy the facility, it’s unclear whether Israel has the capabilities to penetrate the site without deploying commandos.
Iran has denied enriching uranium to near weapons-grade purity at Fordow and claims that sabotage or a malicious act led to contamination of particles found by international inspectors. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported finding particles of high-enriched uranium with enrichment levels close to 90 percent.
The US has already withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which restricts Iran’s nuclear development activities. Trump left open the possibility that he might deploy MOPs in response to any future actions by Iran, but it remains unclear whether this will happen.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/19/what-is-irans-fordow-nuclear-facility-and-could-us-weapons-destroy-it