Fordow is an underground facility located near the city of Qom in Iran. It was built to enrich uranium, which can be used for both nuclear power and, potentially, nuclear weapons. The site became known to the international community in 2009, raising concerns about its purpose and the transparency of Iran's nuclear program. The facility is heavily fortified and designed to withstand military attacks, making it a significant point of interest in discussions about nuclear non-proliferation. Fordow operates centrifuges to enrich uranium to a higher level than what is typically needed for civilian energy use, leading to increased scrutiny from global powers and organizations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).