Where Are Iran’s Nuclear Sites — And What Happens Inside Them? – Live India

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In a landmark escalation, U.S. President Donald Trump declares Fordow “gone” following a profitable airstrike on key Iranian nuclear services; highlight turns to Iran’s widespread uranium enrichment community.

Vienna, June 22: U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that American army forces carried out a “very profitable assault” on Iranian nuclear websites, together with the fortified underground facility at Fordow, marking a dramatic escalation within the ongoing Israel-Iran battle. Trump’s assertion got here simply days after Israel launched its personal assaults on Iran’s Natanz and Khondab nuclear installations. Because the world reacts to this seismic army motion, consideration has now shifted to the strategic depth and resilience of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which spans a number of areas throughout the nation.

Iran’s Nuclear Infrastructure Beneath Assault: A Breakdown

📍Where Are Iran’s Nuclear Sites?
Iran’s nuclear program is scattered throughout the nation, with a number of services constructed underground to outlive aerial assaults. The U.S. strike focused Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan — central to uranium enrichment and gasoline fabrication actions.

❗ Does Iran Have a Nuclear Weapons Program?

Regardless of Tehran’s denials, each the United States and the IAEA consider Iran halted a coordinated nuclear weapons program in 2003. Beneath the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran agreed to limit nuclear actions in return for sanctions reduction. However Trump’s 2018 withdrawal from the deal led to Iran ramping up enrichment, edging nearer to weapons-grade uranium ranges.

⚛️ Iran’s Enrichment Surge

• Iran is now enriching uranium as much as 60% purity at two websites — perilously near the 90% required for weapons-grade materials.
• The IAEA estimates Iran has sufficient enriched materials for six bombs if additional refined.

🏗️ Focused Sites and Their Strategic Significance

➡️ Natanz

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• Iran’s largest enrichment hub close to Qom.
• Homes each the underground Gasoline Enrichment Plant (FEP) and above-floor Pilot Plant.
• Earlier than the strikes, ~16,000 centrifuges operated right here.
• Beforehand broken by sabotage in 2021, allegedly by Israel.

➡️ Fordow

• Deep inside a mountain close to Qom; fortified in opposition to strikes.
• About 2,000 centrifuges operated right here, together with superior IR-6s.
• Trump claimed in his submit-strike assertion: “Fordow is gone.”
• Beforehand prohibited from enrichment beneath the 2015 deal.

➡️ Isfahan

• A serious nuclear industrial zone.
• Consists of uranium conversion and storage services.
• Homes instruments for uranium metallic manufacturing and centrifuge half fabrication — each essential for potential weapons improvement.

➡️ Khondab (Previously Arak)

• A heavy-water analysis reactor, halted beneath the 2015 pact.
• Might produce plutonium, one other path to nuclear weapons.
• Iran goals to restart operations by 2026.

➡️ Tehran Analysis Centre & Bushehr

• The capital hosts a nuclear analysis reactor.
• Bushehr, Iran’s solely operational nuclear energy plant, is taken into account low-threat because of Russian gasoline administration.

📉 World and Market Implications

Trump’s daring army transfer despatched tremors by means of diplomatic and monetary circles. Whereas some analysts predict oil worth spikes and market volatility, others counsel Iran could also be compelled right into a peace settlement amid its weakened nuclear posture.