Ex-Mossad chief says 'we toured' Iran's Fordo nuclear site 'many times'
Key Points:
- Former Mossad director Yossi Cohen revealed that Israeli operatives have toured Iran’s Fordo uranium enrichment facility multiple times to gather intelligence, though he did not specify when these visits occurred or who was involved.
- Cohen expressed satisfaction over the US bombing of the Fordo site during the June 2025 conflict between Israel and Iran, which severely damaged Fordo and other nuclear facilities, but noted that some highly enriched uranium may have been relocated to a nearby site not targeted in the strikes.
- He claimed that uranium enriched to 60% purity is still far from weapons-grade, a statement that contrasts with expert opinions suggesting it can be quickly further enriched to bomb-grade levels.
- Plans for a complex Mossad operation targeting Fordo were developed around 2010 but were shelved after the 2016 nuclear deal between Iran and the Obama administration, with focus shifting towards military preparedness instead.
- Cohen has previously disclosed details of Mossad’s covert operations against Iran, including sabotage of nuclear facilities and intelligence theft, emphasizing Israel’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.