Iran Could Be Significantly Expanding Nuclear Programme

The Washington Post reportingthat Iran is undertaking a "major expansion" of its Fordow nuclear facility that could "soon triple the site’s production of enriched uranium and give Tehran new options for quickly assembling a nuclear arsenal if it chooses to."

• According to the Post, "at Fordow alone, the expansion could allow Iran to accumulate several bombs’ worth of nuclear fuel every month... Fordow is regarded as particularly significant because its subterranean setting makes it nearly invulnerable to airstrikes."
• The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists reported on June 13 a survey that found "over 69%" of respondents said they "support Iran pursuing nuclear weapons," reversing a long-held public opinion opposed to Iran developing nuclear weapons.
• The report notes: "Historically, public opinion polls since the mid-2000s have consistently demonstrated that while Iranians favored a peaceful nuclear program, a majority of them opposed developing nuclear weapons."
• The Bulletin notes: "This shift in the opinion of Iranians vis-à-vis nuclear weapons cannot be entirely divorced from recent events in the Iran-Israel conflict, which included an Israeli air strike of an Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1 and direct Iranian drone and missile strikes against Israel in response on April 13."
• Comes after the Biden administration yesterday cancelled a first high-level meeting since 2023, between US and Israeli officials, to discuss Iran's nuclear programme, scheduled to take place today, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video on the social media site X criticising the US for withholding weapons from Israel.