The United States and Iran have engaged in five rounds of discussions concerning Tehran’s nuclear program prior to the Israeli strikes that occurred early Friday.
In recent years, Iran has significantly accelerated its nuclear activities and expanded the scope of its program in response to the U.S. withdrawal in 2018 from an agreement that was intended to limit its nuclear endeavors in exchange for lifting international sanctions.
By mid-August, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium reached 5,751.8 kilograms, which is 28 times the limit set by the 2015 agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, according to the latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Out of this total, 164.7 kilograms of enriched uranium at 60% purity was noted, nearing the 90% threshold required for military use. This quantity could potentially yield about four nuclear bombs, as defined by the United Nations’ agency.
Iran has consistently denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons, asserting that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Below is a list of key sites that are regularly inspected by the IAEA:
Uranium Enrichment Facility – Natanz:
This facility was revealed in 2002 and is one of the most prominent sites in Iran’s nuclear program.
The IAEA confirmed that this site was targeted by Israeli strikes on Friday.
The facility, officially named Ahmad Roshan Site, is divided into two sections—one above ground and one below—housing around 70 cascades of centrifuges, totaling over 10,000 devices used for uranium enrichment.
The site suffered sabotage in April, which Iran attributed to Israeli intelligence.
– Fordow:
Iran disclosed the Fordow facility, located in the mountains between Tehran and Qom, in September 2009, violating United Nations resolutions and sparking a crisis with major world powers. Initially described by Iran as a “backup site” near a military base to protect it from air attacks, Tehran later announced its high-capacity enrichment capabilities, which can accommodate approximately 3,000 centrifuges.
In early 2023, particles of uranium enriched to 83.7% were found at this site, which Iran explained as “unintended fluctuations” during enrichment.
Conversion and Research Plants – Isfahan:
The uranium conversion facility in Isfahan (central Iran), which began industrial-scale testing in 2004, transforms “yellowcake” (a concentrated raw uranium powder sourced from Iranian deserts) into tetrafluoride and then into hexafluoride (UF4 and UF6). These gases must then be fed into centrifuges to produce enriched uranium.
The Isfahan site also includes a laboratory established in April 2009 for producing low-enriched fuel intended for potential reactors.
At the beginning of 2024, Iran announced it would commence construction on a new research reactor at this location.
Arak:
Construction of the heavy water reactor at Arak (central Iran), officially intended for producing plutonium for medical research, began in the early 2000s. However, this project was put on hold in accordance with the 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers, which mandated its redesign. As a result, the reactor core was removed, and concrete was poured into it to render it inoperable.
The facility, now termed Khondab, is expected to be operational by 2026, according to information provided by Iran to the atomic agency. This complex also includes a heavy water production plant.
Tehran:
The nuclear research center in Tehran houses a reactor for producing medical isotopes that was delivered by the U.S. in 1967, prior to the revolution.
Nuclear Power Plant – Bushehr:
The Bushehr nuclear power plant (south), constructed by Russia and supplied with nuclear fuel, began operations in September 2011 at low capacity before being connected to the electrical grid the following year. Initial construction began before the revolution, and Moscow completed the plant in 1994, providing 1,000 megawatts of power.
Additionally, Iran is building two more nuclear plants with Russian assistance: the Darakhtin plant (southwest), which began construction in late 2022 with a capacity of 300 megawatts, and the Sirik complex (overlooking the Strait of Hormuz), which commenced construction in early 2024, featuring four plants with a combined capacity of 5,000 megawatts.