The head of the UN’s nuclear agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has said that Iran still has the ability to restart enriching uranium, which is needed to make a nuclear bomb. He said Iran could do this within a few months if it chooses to.
Recently, Israel and the US carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites – Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan – on 13 June, saying Iran was getting close to building a nuclear weapon. Former US President Donald Trump claimed that the strikes completely destroyed the nuclear facilities, calling them “one of the most successful military strikes in history.”
However, Rafael Grossi disagreed. He said the strikes did serious damage, but not everything was destroyed. He said, “One cannot say that everything is gone. Iran still has the technology and machines to start enrichment again.”
A leaked Pentagon report also said that the strikes probably only delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by a few months, not years.
Iran has given mixed messages. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said the attacks did not do much, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi admitted that the damage was “serious and excessive.”
Now, Iran’s relationship with the UN nuclear agency (IAEA) has become worse. Iran’s parliament has voted to stop working with the IAEA, accusing them of supporting Israel and the US. Iran has also refused to allow IAEA inspectors to check the damaged sites.
On social media, Araghchi said the UN agency’s request to inspect the sites was “meaningless” and possibly “malicious.”
Despite all this, Grossi still hopes for peaceful talks with Iran. He said, “In the end, we need a diplomatic solution, not a military one.”
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment to a low level (3.67%) and not enrich at Fordo for 15 years. But in 2018, Trump withdrew from the deal, saying it wasn’t strong enough to stop Iran from getting a bomb, and re-imposed US sanctions.
In response, Iran started breaking the rules of the deal. By 2021, it had resumed enrichment at Fordo and built up enough 60% enriched uranium to possibly make up to 9 nuclear bombs, according to the IAEA.
Even though a ceasefire has been agreed between Iran and Israel, Iran’s military leader Abdolrahim Mousavi said they don’t fully trust Israel. He warned that if Iran is attacked again, they are ready to respond with full force.
Meanwhile, Trump said he would “absolutely” consider more airstrikes on Iran if new intelligence shows Iran is enriching uranium at a dangerous level.
