Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Iran is suspected of having moved uranium and vital equipment from its Fordow nuclear facility to a safer location prior to a major U.S. airstrike.
According to The New York Times, citing two Israeli officials, Iran appears to have preemptively relocated sensitive materials and equipment from the site ahead of Sunday morning’s powerful U.S. strike.
Following the attack, Israeli intelligence has been analyzing the extent of the damage at Fordow through satellite imagery and surveillance mechanisms. Images captured days before the strike showed several trucks near the facility, suggesting that materials may have been transported elsewhere.
Satellite Images and Pre-Attack Movements Raise Suspicions
Satellite photos released by Maxar Technologies revealed 16 cargo trucks near the entrance of the nuclear complex. Analysts at the London-based Open Source Centre speculated that Iran may have been clearing the site in anticipation of an attack. However, there is no clear information yet on exactly what was removed.
The Fordow site, located deep underground, is considered a highly fortified facility where high-level uranium enrichment has been ongoing. According to reports, the United States dropped a dozen GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs—each weighing 30,000 pounds—on the site during the attack.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed during a press briefing that 12 bunker-busting bombs were used specifically on Fordow. President Donald Trump also claimed that the facility had been rendered completely inoperative. However, initial assessments by U.S. officials suggest that the site was not entirely destroyed due to its reinforced structure.
Extent of Damage Under Assessment, Nuclear Program Likely Delayed
General Daniel Kane of the U.S. Air Force stated that all three Iranian nuclear sites suffered significant damage, but a full assessment would take several more days to complete. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also confirmed that internal damage evaluations are currently underway.
According to U.S. defense and intelligence expert Mick Mulroy, the bombs used in the strike could set back Iran’s nuclear program by at least two to five years. CNN reported that Fordow currently houses approximately 2,700 centrifuges and produces uranium enriched up to 60%. The site is located 262 to 295 feet underground and is known for its heavily secured infrastructure.
Following the attack, it appears that both the direction and momentum of Iran’s nuclear program may have shifted—at least for the near future.
