Trump Weighs Targeting New Iranian Nuclear Facility
Recent media reports indicate that U.S. President Donald Trump is contemplating military options that may involve targeting an Iranian nuclear site believed to be under construction. Amid escalating tensions, Tehran has warned that any American attack would be met with a substantial and severe response. According to these reports, the U.S. administration has informed Israel of plans to deploy additional refueling aircraft in preparation for potentially expanding military operations in the region, thereby bolstering any forthcoming air actions.
Furthermore, the options being discussed within Washington include conducting strikes aimed at Iranian power plants and nuclear facilities, alongside the site known as "Mount Faz" which is suspected of being an underground nuclear construction site.
Understanding the 'Mount Faz' Nuclear Site
The "Mount Faz" site, referred to in Arabic as "جبل الفأس" and in Persian as "کوه کولنغ غاز لا", is situated within a mountainous region approximately 1.6 kilometers south of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility and around 322 kilometers (200 miles) south of Iran's capital, Tehran. Estimates from various experts suggest that the site has been constructed deep beneath layers of granite rock, at depths believed to exceed those of the Fordow facility, which previously faced U.S. strikes from bunker-busting bombs, as reported by The New York Times.
This site has gained prominence since 2020 when satellite images revealed extensive excavation and construction activities in the vicinity. To date, Iranian authorities have not disclosed the nature of the project or its intended purpose, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to conduct inspections within the facility due to restrictions on access for its inspectors.
Studies from the Institute for Science and International Security and the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicate that the complex features four main entrances leading into tunnels that extend 80 to 100 meters below the mountain's surface, offering a significant level of protection compared to other Iranian nuclear sites. Experts from the Institute for Science and International Security speculate that the site could eventually support Iran's centrifuge program, whether in manufacturing components, assembly, or possibly uranium enrichment processes. However, they emphasize that the facility is not yet operational, and there is currently no evidence of it containing enriched nuclear materials.
Additionally, Reuters has characterized the site as comprising deep tunnel complexes near the Natanz facility, noting expert estimates that the level of fortification may complicate any efforts to target it, as it could exceed the capabilities of certain American bombs designed for penetrating fortified structures.
As reported by almasryalyoum.com.
