Forgotten Enrichment Site Raises New Warnings on Iran's Nuclear Program
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Nuclear expert Avner Vilan revealed a previously overlooked Iranian enrichment site in Isfahan, reported to the IAEA just before the "Am Ha'arayot" operation. Inspectors did not verify the site, leaving its nuclear material status unknown. Vilan warned that relying solely on aerial surveillance is insufficient for monitoring such a large industrial complex, and Iran remains close to nuclear weapons capability. He urged a re-evaluation of strategic goals for future military actions against Iran.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Expert Avner Vilan revealed a new Iranian nuclear enrichment site in Isfahan, reported to the IAEA before "Am Ha'arayot" operation.
- IAEA inspectors did not verify the Isfahan site, leaving its nuclear material status unknown.
- Vilan warned that aerial surveillance is insufficient to monitor the large Isfahan complex.
- He stated Iran remains dangerously close to nuclear weapons capability despite military actions.
- Vilan called for re-evaluating strategic goals for future strikes against Iran.
An Iranian nuclear expert, Avner Vilan, has highlighted a previously overlooked enrichment site in Isfahan, which Iran reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) just before the "Am Ha'arayot" operation. Vilan, a former senior Israeli security official, expressed concern that IAEA inspectors did not have sufficient time to inspect the site or verify its exact location, leaving its status and whether it contained enriched nuclear material unknown. He noted that this information surprised him, as he believed Iran only had two enrichment sites in Natanz and Fordow.
Vilan explained that the Isfahan complex, operated by Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, has long been used for uranium conversion and includes a small research reactor. He noted that during the June 2025 "Midnight Hammer" U.S. strikes, tunnels within the complex were bombed, but he initially believed it was a uranium storage site, not an additional enrichment facility. However, upon reviewing the IAEA report and further research, he discovered it was indeed a third enrichment site, reported by Iran on June 12, 2025, the day before the strike.
This revelation suggests Iran may have four potential enrichment sites: Natanz, Fordow near Qom, Isfahan, and another site known as "Mount of the Witch," where work reportedly accelerated after the "Am Ha'arayot" operation. Vilan criticized the downplaying of this information by Israel, the U.S., and the media, who referred to the strikes as targeting "tunnels in Isfahan" or "tunnel entrances" rather than an enrichment site.
A key concern for Vilan is the possibility that enriched nuclear material remains at the Isfahan complex. He pointed out that unlike the underground Fordow facility, the Isfahan site is a large industrial complex with numerous buildings and entrances, making it difficult to monitor activities. He warned that if an enrichment site was active there, potentially with 60% enriched material, the assumption that Iran could not access it over the past year and a half is dangerous. Vilan expressed skepticism about the ability to monitor all activities at the site solely through aerial surveillance.
Despite these concerns, Vilan clarified that this discovery does not fundamentally alter the overall picture but serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of military actions against Iran's nuclear program. He argued that Iran remains dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons, with strong motivation to do so. Vilan called for a re-evaluation of strategic objectives for any further strikes in Iran, questioning the effectiveness of repeating past actions without a clear change in outcome, especially considering the potential high costs for Iran, the region, and Israel's international standing.
