Iran maintains a highly fortified network of underground military facilities in the Qom Province, most notably the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and several “missile cities” operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

A massive non-nuclear explosion has reportedly occurred on March 12th, 2026, in Qom, Iran, the country’s clerical capital.

On March 11, US Central Command (CENTCOM) warned that the Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz for military operations, endangering international shipping and civilian lives. CENTCOM stressed that ports used for military purposes lose protected status under international law, making them potential military targets.

Civilians, including dockworkers and commercial vessel crews, are urged to avoid all Iranian ports with naval activity. While the US military will take precautions to minimize harm, safety cannot be guaranteed near facilities used for Iranian military operations.