Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, has indicated that Iran is expected to commence the production of enriched uranium “in a matter of months.” This statement comes in the wake of damage inflicted on several nuclear facilities due to attacks by the US and Israel, as reported by CBS News on Saturday.
On June 13, Israel initiated a bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities, asserting that the operation was intended to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear weapon capabilities—an objective that the Islamic Republic has repeatedly refuted.
The United States carried out airstrikes on three critical sites associated with Tehran’s nuclear program.
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, has characterized the damage to the country’s nuclear sites as “serious,” although specific details remain undisclosed. US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran’s nuclear program has been delayed by “decades.”
However, Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated that “some is still standing.”
In a recent interview, Grossi stated that within a few months, they could have multiple cascades of centrifuges operational, capable of producing enriched uranium or even achieving this in a shorter timeframe. The remarks were made public on Saturday through a transcript of the discussion.
One crucial inquiry revolves around the possibility of Iran relocating some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilo (900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks.
The uranium being discussed has been enriched to 60 percent, surpassing the thresholds set for civilian applications yet remaining below the classification of weapons-grade. The material, upon further refinement, could potentially yield enough resources to manufacture over nine nuclear bombs.
Grossi acknowledged in an interview with CBS, “We don’t know where this material could be.”
Some items were destroyed during the attack, while others may have been relocated. “At some point, there must be a clarification,” he stated during the interview.
In a significant move, Iranian lawmakers have voted to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This decision comes as Tehran has also dismissed Director General Rafael Grossi’s request for access to the damaged sites, particularly the Fordo facility, which is central to its uranium enrichment efforts.
“It is essential for us to determine and verify the situation, including the specifics of what is present, its location, and the events that transpired,” Grossi stated.
During an interview on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” program, Trump expressed his belief that the stockpile had not been relocated.
“It’s quite a challenging task, especially since we didn’t provide much advance notice,” he stated in the interview excerpts. “No items were relocated.”
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Washington’s backing for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s essential verification and monitoring initiatives in Iran. He praised Director General Rafael Grossi and his organization for their commitment and professionalism.
The complete interview with Grossi is set to be broadcast on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” this Sunday.
