Isfaran
Isfaran is the third largest city in Iran. It has a population of around 2,238,000 (2025 estimate) and a metro area of almost 4 million (3,989,070 2025 estimate). It is kind of in the middle of nowhere. It is 270 miles (440 kilometers) south of Tehran and 197 miles (318 kilometers) from the Persian Gulf.
The reason it has people’s attention is that in addition to all its industry (some of it defense), it is suspected of being the primary location for Iran’s nuclear weapon development program and where it stores most of its enriched uranium (in June 2022 the IAEA reported that 90% of Iran’s most highly enriched uranium was moved to Isfaran). We have obviously destroyed a lot of their gear and equipment, but we have not eliminated their enriched uranium. They supposedly have enough enriched uranium for six nuclear weapons (IAEA in September 2008). It is believed to be buried near Isfaran. Therefore, some people are discussing a ground operation.
The uranium is 60% enriched. At around 90% enriched it becomes usable for weapon use. Therefore this is a potential threat, not an actual threat. They reportedly have around 200 kilograms (441 pounds) of it. Uranium is heavy. so I gather this makes up only 0.37 cubic feet (10.5 cubic centimeters) of material. This is not a huge cache.
The city is some 197 miles (318 kilometers) from the Persian Gulf, 590 miles (950 kilometers) from deeper water shelf of the Gulf of Oman (the more likely place our carriers are going to operate from) and around 232 miles (373 kilometers) from the Iraqi border.
It is not conveniently located for any ground operations or sea-based insertion. Caracas was located on the Caribbean Sea and that was a high-risk operation. This is located significantly inland and away from any borders.
Persia does have the distinct history of being an unconquered independent country for 1,375 years. There is a reason for that, some of that related to geography.
View of Isfaran and Naqsh-e Jahan Square (Pedram Forouzanfar, 23 April 2020)
