The tension surrounding Iran's nuclear facility at "Jabal al-Fas" has escalated significantly, with Israeli assessments warning of its potential use for military-grade uranium enrichment. Concurrently, the United States has continued to hint at the possibility of targeting this site, while Tehran has vehemently denied any nuclear activities occurring there, asserting that these accusations serve as a pretext for a new military escalation.
Israeli estimates, published by the Israeli Army Radio, indicate that the facility, located near the Natanz nuclear complex south of Tehran, possesses all the necessary components to establish an underground site capable of enriching uranium to levels as high as 90%. This concentration is typically associated with the production of nuclear weapons. The assessments further suggest that the presence of enriched uranium at this site would represent a "red line" that would necessitate American intervention. Moreover, they pointed out that while Washington could potentially disrupt the facility's operations, it may not fully destroy it due to its deep fortifications.
In a related context, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed during a congressional hearing that the U.S. has the capability to target the nuclear facility, emphasizing that there are multiple military options available and that the situation is not limited to a single scenario. Hegseth also noted that Iran is currently in one of its weakest military positions following recent U.S. strikes, despite still retaining some military capabilities. He revealed that the Department of Defense has requested an additional $67 billion in funding to cover military operational costs, which have surged to approximately $37.5 billion by the end of September, compared to earlier estimates of $29 billion, as military operations continue and expand.
In contrast, Iranian officials have rejected these accusations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baqaei stated that the "Jabal al-Fas" site is not engaged in any nuclear activities and accused the United States of violating international law and the United Nations Charter through its repeated threats to attack Iranian nuclear facilities. Baqaei asserted that all Iranian nuclear activities are disclosed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and are subject to safeguard agreements, labeling discussions about "Jabal al-Fas" as a "fabricated pretext for aggression, destruction, and sabotage." He also criticized the IAEA's stance, questioning the role of its Director General Rafael Grossi in light of these threats.
Furthermore, Western media reports indicate that Israeli intelligence believes Iran relocated thousands of centrifuges to deep tunnels within the facility over the past year, and that this information has been communicated to the United States. This site has been under American and Israeli surveillance for years, continuously raising concerns about its potential use for developing a nuclear program resilient against airstrikes.
As reported by albiladdaily.com.
