The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, highlights Iran's capability to accelerate uranium enrichment within months, amidst rising tensions following recent military strikes.
Iran's Uranium Enrichment Capacity Raises Alarms, UN Nuclear Chief Warns
Iran's Uranium Enrichment Capacity Raises Alarms, UN Nuclear Chief Warns
Concerns grow over Iran's potential to resume uranium enrichment for weaponization, according to the IAEA.
Iran may resume uranium enrichment for possible nuclear weapons within a matter of months, warns Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This alarming statement arises after US military action targeted three Iranian sites, causing substantial but not complete damage to its nuclear facilities, contradicting former President Donald Trump's assertion that the facilities were entirely destroyed.
On CBS News, Grossi emphasized that Iran maintains the technological and industrial capacities necessary to enrich uranium, stating, "If they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again." This warning follows a Pentagon assessment indicating that the recent strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear advancements temporarily.
Tensions escalated after Israel's attack on nuclear and military sites in Iran, which aimed to hinder its progression toward nuclear weapon capability. Iran and Israel had previously reached a ceasefire, but the potential for renewed conflict remains high, especially in light of Trump's comments, indicating he would consider further military action if intelligence suggested Iran was enriching uranium to dangerous levels.
Iran's leaders have sent mixed messages concerning the damage inflicted by the strikes. While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplayed the impact, saying that the strikes had negligible results, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi labeled the damage as "excessive and serious." Complicating the situation, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of colluding with Israel and the US after the agency reported Tehran's non-compliance with nuclear regulations for the first time in two decades.
Despite these tensions, Grossi expressed hope for future negotiations with Iran, stating the need for a diplomatic solution that addresses the military strikes and Iran's nuclear activities. Under the 2015 nuclear accord, Iran was restricted from enriching uranium above 3.67% purity. However, following the US withdrawal from the agreement under Trump in 2018, Iran has progressively violated those restrictions, continuing enrichment activities and accumulating sufficient uranium to potentially create several nuclear bombs. The situation remains tense as diplomatic efforts become increasingly urgent to prevent further escalation.
