Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Facility Faces Heightened International Scrutiny as Uranium Enrichment Surges

The Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, Iran’s most fortified nuclear facility, is under increased international scrutiny following a sharp escalation in uranium enrichment activity. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that uranium at Fordow is now being enriched to 60% purity, a level significantly higher than the 3-5% typically used for civilian nuclear power and alarmingly close to the 90% required for weapons-grade material. This surge in enrichment follows a European-led resolution at the UN nuclear watchdog, after which Iran reportedly increased its enrichment capacity at Fordow tenfold.

Located approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Qom and built deep within a mountain—estimates place its operational areas up to 295 feet underground—Fordow is designed to withstand even the most powerful conventional munitions. Satellite imagery and intelligence reports reveal a network of tunnels and a robust security perimeter, underscoring the facility's strategic significance and the challenges it poses for any potential military action.

The IAEA’s latest report, dated May 31, 2025, details that Iran began feeding two IR-6 centrifuge cascades with uranium hexafluoride enriched up to 20% U-235, rather than the previous 5%, at the Fordow site in December 2024. This adjustment has dramatically increased the monthly output of uranium enriched to 60%, now exceeding 34 kilograms per month. As of late May, inspectors verified that Fordow was operating multiple cascades of IR-1 and IR-6 centrifuges, further accelerating the rate at which Iran could amass highly enriched uranium.

While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, the accumulation of uranium at such high levels has raised serious concerns among international observers. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi noted that Iran has amassed roughly 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, a quantity that, if further enriched, could be sufficient for several nuclear weapons. Experts warn that with current stockpiles and centrifuge capacity, Iran could theoretically convert its 60% enriched uranium to weapons-grade material in a matter of weeks if it chose to do so.

Despite recent regional attacks, including Israeli strikes targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure, the IAEA has confirmed that Fordow remains undamaged and fully operational. The facility’s resilience and Iran’s refusal to provide full transparency on its design and operations have fueled suspicions about its ultimate purpose, especially given its origins as a military installation and its conversion to a nuclear site only after Western intelligence exposed its existence in 2009.

The Fordow facility’s continued expansion and the rapid buildup of enriched uranium have intensified debate over global nuclear security and the prospects for renewed diplomatic engagement. While Iran insists it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, the international community remains deeply concerned about the implications of these developments for regional stability and nonproliferation efforts.