Iran Can Quickly Restart Enriched Uranium Production, IAEA Warns
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, made an unexpected statement regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities. He believes that the country can return to producing enriched uranium within a matter of months, despite the destruction of some facilities resulting from a series of strikes by the United States and Israel. These conclusions were made in the context of ongoing modernization of Iran’s nuclear program, which remains under close international scrutiny. According to Grossi, regardless of the inflicted damages, Iranian nuclear facilities, including centrifuge centers that produce enriched uranium, are capable of rapid recovery and could resume operations within a few months. “They may already have several cascades of centrifuges that are seeking to operate, or they will be able to launch them in the shortest possible time,” Grossi stated in an interview with CBS News. A pressing issue remains regarding the preservation of enriched uranium stocks—specifically, their transfer after the strikes. It is likely that some movement has already taken place or is in progress, but it is currently uncertain where these stocks are located. According to the IAEA, Iran holds approximately 408.6 kilograms of highly enriched uranium—material enriched beyond 60%. This level exceeds the permissible limit for civilian uses but falls short of the threshold needed for nuclear weapons development. With further processing and improvements, this stockpile could theoretically be used to manufacture at least nine nuclear bombs. Grossi emphasized that it is currently difficult to determine the whereabouts of this potentially dangerous material. “Some may have been destroyed during the strikes, and some may have been moved. We need to clarify what exactly happened to understand the situation clearly,” he asserted. On the Iranian side, signs of heightened tension with the international community emerged this week. The country’s lawmakers unanimously voted to cease cooperation with the IAEA and denied access to its inspectors to key nuclear sites, including Fordow, the main uranium enrichment facility. This has raised concerns globally, as it complicates verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities. Grossi stressed that access to these sites and clarification of the fate of potential stockpiles are essential for continued investigation and confirmation of the current situation. “We must be able to verify what is there and what has happened—without this, the entire basis of our work is in question,” he explained. Ukrainian and international policymakers are reacting to this situation in their own ways. U.S. President Donald Trump, commenting on the uranium movement, indicated that his assessment is that the stocks likely remain in place and have not been moved after recent strikes. “It’s very difficult to do that, considering we warned of the strikes in advance. I see no evidence that Iran has moved the stockpiles—they remain in place,” Trump stated. Another critical factor in this crisis is the military operations initiated by Israel on June 13. The Israeli Air Force has conducted strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, claiming that these measures are necessary to prevent the spread of Iran’s nuclear program and its potential militarization. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that the damage to facilities was significant but did not disclose details, emphasizing Iran’s responsibility for safeguarding its security. President Trump reiterated that Iran’s nuclear weapons program has been halted “for decades,” effectively reaffirming his administration’s stance on the irreversible nature of Iran’s nuclear activity. Meanwhile, the international community remains tense, seeking to avoid further escalation and to maintain control over this critical sphere.