Over entities are listed by the EU and subject to financial restrictions and travel prohibitions in the case of individuals. A smaller number — less than — remain designated by the United Nations. Skip to main content. Iran begins new construction at Fordo underground nuclear facility amid US tensions.
Iran has begun construction on a site at its underground nuclear facility amid tensions with the United States over its atomic program, according to satellite photos. Iran has not publicly acknowledged any new construction at Fordo, whose discovery by the West in came in an earlier round of brinkmanship before world powers struck the nuclear deal with Tehran.
While the purpose of the building remains unclear, any work at Fordo will likely trigger new concern in the waning days of the Trump administration before the inauguration of president-elect Joe Biden. Already, Iran is building at its Natanz nuclear facility after a mysterious explosion in July there which Tehran described as a sabotage attack.
Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Satellite images obtained from Maxar Technologies by Associated Press AP show the construction taking place at a north-west corner of the site, near the holy Shiite city of Qom some 90 kilometres south-west of Tehran.
A December 11 satellite photo shows what appears to be a dug foundation for a building with dozens of pillars. Such pillars can be used in construction to support buildings in earthquake zones. The construction site sits north-west of Fordo's underground facility, built deep inside a mountain to protect it from potential airstrikes. Vacuum technology is a crucial component of Iran's uranium-gas centrifuges, which enrich uranium.
The AP later reached the Twitter user, who identified himself as a retired Israeli Defense Forces soldier with a civil engineering background. He asked that his name not be published because he has previously received threats online. US President Donald Trump in unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran's nuclear deal, in which Tehran had agreed to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Shielded by the mountains, the facility also is ringed by anti-aircraft guns and other fortifications.
It is about the size of a football field, large enough to house 3, centrifuges, but small and hardened enough to lead U. As of now, Iran is enriching uranium up to 4.
The bill also would throw out IAEA inspectors. Experts say Iran now has enough low-enriched uranium stockpiled for at least two nuclear weapons, if it chose to pursue them. Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is peaceful.
The bill seeks to pressure European nations to provide relief from crippling U. Meanwhile, an Iranian scientist who created its military nuclear program two decades ago recently was killed in a shooting outside of Tehran. While the purpose of the building remains unclear, any work at Fordo likely will trigger new concern in the waning days of the Trump administration before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
Already, Iran is building at its Natanz nuclear facility after a mysterious explosion in July there that Tehran described as a sabotage attack. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The International Atomic Energy Agency, whose inspectors are in Iran as part of the nuclear deal, declined to comment. Construction on the Fordo site began in late September. Satellite images obtained from Maxar Technologies by the AP show the construction taking place at a northwest corner of the site, near the holy Shiite city of Qom some 90 kilometers 55 miles southwest of Tehran.
A Dec. Such pillars can be used in construction to support buildings in earthquake zones. The construction site sits northwest of Fordo's underground facility, built deep inside a mountain to protect it from potential airstrikes.
The site is near other support and research-and-development buildings at Fordo. Vacuum technology is a crucial component of Iran's uranium-gas centrifuges, which enrich uranium.
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