Iran is running out of ammo, rocket launchers as it struggles to keep up with Israel: experts
Iran's retaliatory attacks against Israel have been significantly diminished over the past two days following Israeli assaults against their missile silos and launching sites, experts said.
After firing more than 200 rockets in six waves of missile strikes against Israel on Friday and Saturday, Tehran only launched two waves of attacks the following day with only three dozen missiles each, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank tracking the fighting.
Monday saw about 40 more missiles fired, with about half that on Tuesday — all while the Israeli military touted that it has successfully decimated Iran's ability to retaliate.
Tehran initially planned to fire 1,000 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to Friday's preemptive strike, but the strong response never came to fruition because of the severe damage to Iran's ammunition, the ISW said.
'Iran has used significantly fewer munitions in its response to Israel than originally planned because the IDF destroyed and damaged missile launchers and silos that Iran planned to use to retaliate against Israel,' it wrote.
Before the current conflict started, US and Israeli officials estimated that Iran's stockpile of missiles was at about 2,000, and not all of them were capable of reaching the Jewish state, according to the think tank.
That number has likely plummeted following Israel's repeated attacks against Tehran's missile launching facilities, which carried on into Tuesday.
The Israel Defense Forces estimates that some 40% of Iran's ballistic missile launches have been destroyed since Israel began bombing the Islamic Republic on Friday.
The Israel Air Force said that more than 70 Iranian air defense missile batteries have also been wiped out, crippling Tehran's ability to keep its military facilities from being further destroyed.
The Israeli military has said it will continue to 'hunt down' Iran's missile silos and launchers, with the IDF sharing video after video on X of rocket facilities destroyed in Iran.
With Iran only firing small-scale attacks recently, Israel's Home Front Command issued an end to its pre-launch alerts, which gave citizens a wider window to seek shelter from Iran's ballistic missile attacks.
Originally published as Iran is running out of ammo, rocket launchers as it struggles to keep up with Israel: experts
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Israel hits Iranian nuclear facility as war grinds on
Israel's military has struck an Iranian nuclear research facility and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, while emphasising it's preparing for the possibility that the war could turn into a lengthy campaign. Early on Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. The target was two centrifuge production sites, and the attacks came on top of strikes on other centrifuge production sites elsewhere in recent days, according to an Israeli military official. It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel's goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Iran launched a new wave of drones and missiles at Israel but there were no immediate reports of significant damage, and the Israeli official called it a "small barrage" that was largely intercepted by Israel's defences. The official said part of the reason Tehran's overnight attack had been relatively small was that the military estimated it had taken out more than half of Iran's launchers. Later, the Israeli military's chief spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said the army had been told to be prepared for a "prolonged campaign" to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. "We are deepening our strikes night after night and we have amazing achievements," he said. "We will continue until the threat is removed." Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday failed to produce a breakthrough. European officials expressed hope for future discussions, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue while emphasising that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed," he told reporters. US President Donald Trump is weighing active US military involvement in the conflict, which Araghchi on Saturday said "would be very, very dangerous for everyone". The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 430 people have been killed and 3500 wounded in Iran, Iranian state-run Nour News reported on Saturday, citing the country's health ministry. Iran has retaliated by firing more than 450 missiles and 1000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. But Netanyahu's goal could be out of reach without US help, with Iran's underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility considered to be out of reach to all but America's "bunker-buster" bombs. Trump said he would put off deciding whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran for up to two weeks. In Israel's opening attack, it killed three of Iran's top military leaders: armed forces chief General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guard leader General Hossein Salami, and Guard ballistic missile program boss General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The targeted killings of senior commanders continued, with Israel's defence minister saying on Saturday the military killed a Guard commander who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the 20-month long war in Gaza. Israel said Saeed Izadi was commander of the Palestine Corps for the elite Iranian Quds Force, and he was killed in an apartment in the city of Qom. The Israeli military later said it killed a second commander of the Guards' overseas arm, Benham Shariyari, during a strike on his vehicle in Tehran. A commander of Iran's drone force was also killed overnight, the Israeli official who briefed reporters said. with Reuters Israel's military has struck an Iranian nuclear research facility and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, while emphasising it's preparing for the possibility that the war could turn into a lengthy campaign. Early on Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. The target was two centrifuge production sites, and the attacks came on top of strikes on other centrifuge production sites elsewhere in recent days, according to an Israeli military official. It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel's goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Iran launched a new wave of drones and missiles at Israel but there were no immediate reports of significant damage, and the Israeli official called it a "small barrage" that was largely intercepted by Israel's defences. The official said part of the reason Tehran's overnight attack had been relatively small was that the military estimated it had taken out more than half of Iran's launchers. Later, the Israeli military's chief spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said the army had been told to be prepared for a "prolonged campaign" to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. "We are deepening our strikes night after night and we have amazing achievements," he said. "We will continue until the threat is removed." Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday failed to produce a breakthrough. European officials expressed hope for future discussions, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue while emphasising that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed," he told reporters. US President Donald Trump is weighing active US military involvement in the conflict, which Araghchi on Saturday said "would be very, very dangerous for everyone". The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 430 people have been killed and 3500 wounded in Iran, Iranian state-run Nour News reported on Saturday, citing the country's health ministry. Iran has retaliated by firing more than 450 missiles and 1000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. But Netanyahu's goal could be out of reach without US help, with Iran's underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility considered to be out of reach to all but America's "bunker-buster" bombs. Trump said he would put off deciding whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran for up to two weeks. In Israel's opening attack, it killed three of Iran's top military leaders: armed forces chief General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guard leader General Hossein Salami, and Guard ballistic missile program boss General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The targeted killings of senior commanders continued, with Israel's defence minister saying on Saturday the military killed a Guard commander who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the 20-month long war in Gaza. Israel said Saeed Izadi was commander of the Palestine Corps for the elite Iranian Quds Force, and he was killed in an apartment in the city of Qom. The Israeli military later said it killed a second commander of the Guards' overseas arm, Benham Shariyari, during a strike on his vehicle in Tehran. A commander of Iran's drone force was also killed overnight, the Israeli official who briefed reporters said. with Reuters Israel's military has struck an Iranian nuclear research facility and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, while emphasising it's preparing for the possibility that the war could turn into a lengthy campaign. Early on Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. The target was two centrifuge production sites, and the attacks came on top of strikes on other centrifuge production sites elsewhere in recent days, according to an Israeli military official. It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel's goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Iran launched a new wave of drones and missiles at Israel but there were no immediate reports of significant damage, and the Israeli official called it a "small barrage" that was largely intercepted by Israel's defences. The official said part of the reason Tehran's overnight attack had been relatively small was that the military estimated it had taken out more than half of Iran's launchers. Later, the Israeli military's chief spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said the army had been told to be prepared for a "prolonged campaign" to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. "We are deepening our strikes night after night and we have amazing achievements," he said. "We will continue until the threat is removed." Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday failed to produce a breakthrough. European officials expressed hope for future discussions, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue while emphasising that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed," he told reporters. US President Donald Trump is weighing active US military involvement in the conflict, which Araghchi on Saturday said "would be very, very dangerous for everyone". The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 430 people have been killed and 3500 wounded in Iran, Iranian state-run Nour News reported on Saturday, citing the country's health ministry. Iran has retaliated by firing more than 450 missiles and 1000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. But Netanyahu's goal could be out of reach without US help, with Iran's underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility considered to be out of reach to all but America's "bunker-buster" bombs. Trump said he would put off deciding whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran for up to two weeks. In Israel's opening attack, it killed three of Iran's top military leaders: armed forces chief General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guard leader General Hossein Salami, and Guard ballistic missile program boss General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The targeted killings of senior commanders continued, with Israel's defence minister saying on Saturday the military killed a Guard commander who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the 20-month long war in Gaza. Israel said Saeed Izadi was commander of the Palestine Corps for the elite Iranian Quds Force, and he was killed in an apartment in the city of Qom. The Israeli military later said it killed a second commander of the Guards' overseas arm, Benham Shariyari, during a strike on his vehicle in Tehran. A commander of Iran's drone force was also killed overnight, the Israeli official who briefed reporters said. with Reuters Israel's military has struck an Iranian nuclear research facility and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks, while emphasising it's preparing for the possibility that the war could turn into a lengthy campaign. Early on Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. The target was two centrifuge production sites, and the attacks came on top of strikes on other centrifuge production sites elsewhere in recent days, according to an Israeli military official. It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel's goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Iran launched a new wave of drones and missiles at Israel but there were no immediate reports of significant damage, and the Israeli official called it a "small barrage" that was largely intercepted by Israel's defences. The official said part of the reason Tehran's overnight attack had been relatively small was that the military estimated it had taken out more than half of Iran's launchers. Later, the Israeli military's chief spokesman, Brigadier General Effie Defrin, said the army had been told to be prepared for a "prolonged campaign" to destroy its targets, including nuclear sites, enrichment facilities and missile infrastructure. "We are deepening our strikes night after night and we have amazing achievements," he said. "We will continue until the threat is removed." Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday failed to produce a breakthrough. European officials expressed hope for future discussions, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue while emphasising that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed," he told reporters. US President Donald Trump is weighing active US military involvement in the conflict, which Araghchi on Saturday said "would be very, very dangerous for everyone". The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 430 people have been killed and 3500 wounded in Iran, Iranian state-run Nour News reported on Saturday, citing the country's health ministry. Iran has retaliated by firing more than 450 missiles and 1000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel's military operation in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. But Netanyahu's goal could be out of reach without US help, with Iran's underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility considered to be out of reach to all but America's "bunker-buster" bombs. Trump said he would put off deciding whether to join Israel's air campaign against Iran for up to two weeks. In Israel's opening attack, it killed three of Iran's top military leaders: armed forces chief General Mohammad Bagheri, Revolutionary Guard leader General Hossein Salami, and Guard ballistic missile program boss General Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The targeted killings of senior commanders continued, with Israel's defence minister saying on Saturday the military killed a Guard commander who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the 20-month long war in Gaza. Israel said Saeed Izadi was commander of the Palestine Corps for the elite Iranian Quds Force, and he was killed in an apartment in the city of Qom. The Israeli military later said it killed a second commander of the Guards' overseas arm, Benham Shariyari, during a strike on his vehicle in Tehran. A commander of Iran's drone force was also killed overnight, the Israeli official who briefed reporters said. with Reuters
The Australian
4 hours ago
- The Australian
Military metals rise on rage of war
Metals used in munitions and military technology are in the spotlight as war rages in the Middle East and Ukraine Tungsten, tin, antimony, rare earths and beryllium among the key commodities to follow These ASX stocks are moving to stake out a position in critical minerals markets The rise of fresh tensions in the Middle East has put the spotlight on the minerals needed for military operations. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza continue to rage, and even escalate, while the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran is leading to fears of a much larger regional, or even global, conflict. While the first few days of the conflict have boosted the price of oil, it's also a sad fact that military operations are metals intensive. Even without an additional conflict, US President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' will see the country's defence spending hit US$1 trillion next year for the first time. In a recent presentation in Toronto, Hallgarten + Company analyst Christopher Ecclestone noted that most of the combatants in World War I and, to a lesser extent, World War II, had all the metals and minerals they needed domestically – which is not the case today. He also pointed out that war materials are exceedingly high-tech, both in composition and metal inputs, adding that rare earths 'weren't a thing' in WWII. While loads of different metals, including aluminium and titanium, are needed for defence applications, Ecclestone listed the 'headline' military metals as tungsten, antimony, rare earths, tin and beryllium. While there aren't any options on the ASX for beryllium, we have a look at some of the juniors with near-term production potential in the other four metals. Tungsten Vancouver-based investment firm Mission Critical Metals, of which Ecclestone is also CEO, describes tungsten as the key military metal, due to its use in making bulletproof vehicles, armoured tanks, armour-piercing rounds, high-speed cutting tools, and rocket and aircraft parts. Mission says that given the turnaround in the tungsten price is relatively recent, the space is yet to attract many new players. Outside of the ASX's two listed tungsten producers, Almonty Industries (ASX:AII) and EQ Resources (ASX:EQR), there are a couple of other hopefuls. Tungsten Mining (ASX:TGN) is considering an early production pathway for its Hatches Creek project in the Northern Territory. Last month, the company reported a maiden inferred resource of 12 million tonnes at 0.17% tungsten trioxide, which will feed into a scoping study. Preliminary metallurgical studies have successfully produced a tungsten concentrate grading at 50% tungsten trioxide. Meanwhile, Rumble Resources (ASX:RTR) discovered a tungsten sweetener at its Western Queen gold project in Western Australia last year. High-grade tungsten mineralisation remains open in all directions with a maiden resource to be reported in the September quarter. The company will then complete metallurgical testwork to determine the quantum of the tungsten revenue stream and incorporate it into the Western Queen South mining schedule. Antimony Antimony is used in military applications including fighter jets, military primers, night vision goggles, lasers, military detonators and military smoke agents. There's been an explosion of ASX companies seeking exposure to antimony due to a price surge driven by shortages. Larvotto Resources (ASX:LRV) is one of the more advanced companies globally, with its Hillgrove project in New South Wales due to start production next year. Nearby, Trigg Minerals' (ASX:TMG) Achilles project contains the Wild Cattle Creek deposit, with a resource of 1.52Mt at 1.97% antimony containing 29,902 tonnes of antimony, which the company says makes it Australia's highest grade primary antimony resource. Trigg also recently boosted it antimony portfolio with the addition of the Antimony Canyon project in Utah, which has a non-JORC resource of 12.7Mt at 0.79% antimony for 100,300t of contained antimony. Felix Gold (ASX:FXG) could be in production the soonest from its Treasure Island project in Alaska. The company is working towards small-scale antimony production by the end of this year from the Scrafford deposit, which previously produced up to 58% antimony. Also in Alaska, Nova Minerals (ASX:NVA) has applied to the US Department of Defense (DoD) for funding to potentially fast track antimony production from its Stibium deposit. Resolution Minerals (ASX:RML) is a newer entrant to the antimony space, last week securing the Horse Heaven project in Idaho to complement assets in NSW. On Wednesday, Resolution appointed Washington DC-based Clewett Global Services as external affairs advisers as it considers applying for DoD funding. Larvotto and Trigg have also reported tungsten resources, while Resolution's new project also has tungsten potential. Rare Earths Rare earths are essential to the defence sector, making the development of new supply chains a matter of national security for countries including the US. Neodymium and praseodymium permanent magnets are used in F-35 fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles, while lanthanum is used in night vision goggles and terbium is used in naval sonar systems. Shares in Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR) have exploded recently after Trump tweeted his support for the Colosseum rare earths project in California. Last week, Dateline confirmed further public support from members of the Trump Administration, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) is a more recent entrant to the space, but its Mojave project in California sits right next to the US' only operating rare earths mine, MP Materials' Mountain Pass, and is also prospective for antimony. This week, Locksley Resources launched strategic collaboration initiatives, targeting engagement with US agencies, national laboratories, US universities and downstream technology partners. In Australia, Victory Metals (ASX:VTM) recently received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for up to US$190 million in project financing for the development of the North Stanmore heavy rare earths project in WA. The project is set to produce both heavy and light rare earths, as well as gallium and scandium as by-products. VHM (ASX:VHM) is targeting rare earths and mineral sands production from its Goschen project in Victoria in late 2026 after receiving a mining license for the project recently. The company is working towards a final investment decision in the December half. Tin According to the DoD, tin is used in many defence applications, such as soldering to enable electrical connections in semiconductors, high-end capacitors, and other electronic components in nearly all military hardware. There's not a lot of tin exposure on the ASX outside of long-time producer Metals X (ASX:MLX). Metals X-backed Elementos (ASX:ELT) could be next in line after releasing a definitive feasibility study for its Oropesa project in Spain in April. The company is now working on permitting and financing ahead of a making a final investment decision. Stellar Resources (ASX:SRZ) says its Heemskirk tin project in Tasmania has the potential to be a global top 10 producer. A prefeasibility study is due in the second half of this year, with the company expected to move straight into a DFS. Sky Metals (ASX:SKY) holds the advanced Tallebung project in NSW, a historical tin producer. The company is advancing a bulk sample metallurgical program to optimise the process flowsheet and produce marketable tin concentrates ahead of offtake marketing. Earlier stage explorers include Brazilian focused Australian Mines (ASX:AUZ) and Perpetual Resources (ASX:PEC), who are trying to find new deposit in a waning tin power which almost 40 years ago supplied 22% of the world's primary tin. At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While Victory Metals, Locksley Resources, Resolution Minerals, Tungsten Mining, Australian Mines and Perpetual Resources are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article.
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Israel-Iran conflict: Ten maps tracking key nuclear sites, targets and US military bases
Israel struck the Natanz nuclear facility, Iran's main uranium enrichment site, on Friday during the first wave of attacks. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, told the BBC on Monday the centrifuges underground in Natanz were 'severely damaged if not destroyed altogether.' Iranian state television reported on June 20 that Israel had attacked the unfinished Arak heavy-water reactor, with the IAEA confirming the reactor had been hit and that it had not contained any nuclear material. Iran's fallback site, Fordow, remains a stronghold, and likely will remain unless the US joins the conflict in earnest. Despite Israel's repeated airstrikes on the facility, only the US has the 'bunker buster' bombs, and the planes to transport the bombs, that could damage the subterranean facility. By June 20, about 3200 Australians in Iran and Israel had registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade for support, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a press conference. The Australian embassy in Tehran is closed, Wong confirmed on June 20, with staff leaving Iran by road. Australian Defence Force personnel were also deployed to assist with evacuations, not for combat, Wong emphasised. 'We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now,' Wong said. Where has Iran struck in Israel? In response to Israel's attacks on Friday, Iran launched Operation True Promise III, firing missiles and drones on targets including the Kirya compound, one of the most sensitive and heavily guarded sites in Israel. On June 13, it was reported at least one Iranian missile had struck near the skyscraper Marganit Tower, a major communications hub inside the compound. Loading Established in Tel Aviv in 1948, the Kirya is Israel's central military headquarters. It's often described as Israel's equivalent to the United States' Pentagon, serving as a symbol of national security as much as it functions as the hub of the Israel Defence Force's operations. By Wednesday morning, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement claiming it had 'gained complete control over the skies of the occupied territories' after launching two missile barrages at Israel overnight. According to live broadcasts, however, Israel's Iron Dome was still intercepting missiles. On June 19, southern Israel's main hospital, Soroka Medical Centre, was hit by an Iranian missile, leaving several wounded and causing extensive damage, according to a spokesperson for Israel's Foreign Ministry. Iran's Revolutionary Guard, meanwhile, said after the strike that the ballistic missile was supposed to hit the nearby Israeli military and intelligence quarters. Where are Iran's nuclear facilities? South of Tehran lies the Natanz Nuclear Facility, a complex at the heart of Iran's enrichment program housing several buidings including: the underground Fuel Enrichment Plant and above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. The Fordow enrichment facility is also south of Tehran, and is notably underground, making it harder to destroy. Loading Further south, on the outskirts of Isfahan, Iran's second-largest city, is a large nuclear technology centre that includes the Fuel Plate Fabrication Plant and uranium conversion and storage facilities. On the Gulf Coast is the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which is Iran's only operating nuclear power plant and uses Russian fuel that Russia takes back once it is spent. Further north, in addition to Tehran's nuclear research reactor, is the partially built heavy-water research reactor in Khondab, formerly known as Arak, which Iran previously informed the IAEA it planned to start operating in 2026. Why is Iran's Fordow nuclear base a target? Dug deep into a mountain near Qom is the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is one of Iran's most heavily fortified nuclear sites, built in secrecy and designed for survivability. Loading It was exposed through Western intelligence in 2009, and its capacity to enrich uranium levels close to weapons-grade is what alarms the superpowers and makes it critical to Iran's nuclear program. In 2023, according to the IAEA, uranium enriched to a purity of 83.7 per cent was found at Fordow. Nuclear weapons need an enrichment level of 90 per cent. The fact that Fordow was designed as a fallback facility should other nuclear sites be compromised makes it a key stronghold for Iran, and a prime target for Israel – but it's understood Israel would be hard-pressed to destroy it without help from the US. Why does Israel need the United States' assistance to target Fordow? Fordow's underground nuclear facilities are understood to be 80 to 90 metres beneath the mountain's surface. It's impenetrable, even if Israel used the most advanced 'bunker buster' bombs in its arsenal for targeted aerial strikes. The 13,608-kilogram GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) is thought to be the only 'bunker buster' bomb that could reach the core buried below Fordow's surface, though that would still be likely to require multiple strikes. Loading Capable of burrowing through 60 metres of steel and rock before detonating, it was developed by the US and is its largest non-nuclear bomb. Israel has requested it from the US, and the request has been denied multiple times. Only a B2 Stealth Bomber, 20 of which are in the US Air Force's active fleet, could carry the bomb due to its sheer size. How large is the United States' military presence in the Middle East? Iran has said it would target American military bases in the Middle East should Trump enter the conflict on Israel's side. The US has a significant military presence in the Middle East. The Council on Foreign Relations says there is a broad network of sites spanning at least 19 locations, eight of which are permanent. The permanent sites are understood to be in Israel, Syria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since October 7, 2023, several attacks purportedly by Iran-backed forces have occurred. Notably, in January 2024, three American soldiers were killed after a drone hit the Tower 22 military base in Jordan, near the Syrian border.
