US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb an under-construction Iranian nuclear site buried deep under a mountain, known as the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP). The facility, located near the city of Qom, is built inside a mountain to protect it from aerial attacks. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Fordow is designed to enrich uranium up to 20% purity, though Iran has stated it is for peaceful purposes.
The threats come amid escalating tensions between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. Trump has warned that any Iranian blockade of the strait would be met with military force. In response, Iran has conducted military exercises and threatened to close the strait if its oil exports are blocked.
The Fordow site was originally a secret facility disclosed by Western intelligence in 2009. Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to convert Fordow into a research center and halt enrichment there. However, after the US withdrew from the deal in 2018, Iran resumed enrichment at the site. As of 2026, IAEA inspectors continue to monitor the facility, but access has been restricted.
Experts warn that bombing Fordow could trigger a wider conflict in the Middle East. The site's deep underground location makes it difficult to destroy with conventional bombs, and any attack could release radioactive materials. The US has not confirmed specific plans to strike the facility, but Trump's rhetoric has raised concerns among allies and adversaries alike.
