Iran Could Resume Uranium Enrichment Within Months – UN Nuclear Watchdog

The leader of the UN’s nuclear oversight agency stated that recent US military strikes on Iran did not fully eliminate Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, cautioning that Iran could restart uranium enrichment “in a matter of months.”

This directly contradicts former President Donald Trump’s frequent assertions that the strikes delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions by decades.

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), noted that although the strikes inflicted considerable damage, Iran’s industrial and technological infrastructure remains mostly intact.

“They can have, in a matter of months, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium,” Grossi told CBS. “It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it’s not total damage.”

Grossi’s comments are consistent with initial evaluations from the US Defense Intelligence Agency, which suggest the strikes on critical Iranian nuclear facilities likely set the program back by only a few months.

The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran started when Israel launched attacks it claimed were intended to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. The US subsequently targeted three key Iranian nuclear sites before a ceasefire was implemented.

Despite Trump’s claims that no materials were moved prior to the strikes, early Pentagon reports suggested Iran may have relocated some enriched uranium. Grossi remarked, “It’s logical to presume that when they announce protective measures, this could be part of it. But we don’t know where this material could be.”

Grossi also highlighted that the IAEA has not observed evidence of an active Iranian nuclear weapons program but has unresolved concerns about traces of enriched uranium detected at undeclared sites. “We were simply not getting credible answers,” he said.

In the meantime, Iran’s parliament has taken steps to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, and officials have proposed reevaluating the country’s membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which prohibits signatories from pursuing nuclear weapons.

Grossi stressed the importance of ongoing international inspections to maintain transparency, warning that the situation remains precarious.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli