Washington Post: Iran’s enrichment capabilities remain intact

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Washington Post: Iran’s enrichment capabilities remain intact

2025.06.14, 14:25

Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure have damaged surface-level facilities but have not destroyed the deeply buried centrifuges or the country’s stockpile of uranium enriched close to weapons-grade level.

Gunaz.tv

Analysts say Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities — particularly at fortified sites like Fordow and Natanz — remain untouched for now.

“Until Fordow is destroyed and we know the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, we need to keep one eye on the clock [wondering when Iran might acquire nuclear weapons],” said Richard Nephew, former U.S. nuclear negotiator and fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Fordow and Natanz, Iran’s two main enrichment facilities, are deeply fortified underground.

Experts cited by The Washington Post state that only U.S.-made Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs are capable of damaging such fortified bunkers — weapons Israel does not possess.

Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association said:

“Israel can harm Iran’s main nuclear facilities, but without U.S. military aid, it cannot destroy fortified sites like Fordow.”

Satellite images reviewed by analysts show that the strikes at Natanz disabled electrical infrastructure and destroyed a small research building, but the underground production zone was not seriously damaged.

Jeffrey Lewis of the Middlebury Institute warned that Iran could continue producing critical components.

“The centrifuge production hall at Natanz appears undamaged. So I assume they will continue enrichment,” he said.

Former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack suggested that Israel may need to resort to other tactics — such as cyberattacks or special operations — to further weaken Iran’s nuclear program.

GUNAZ.TV

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