New York: Speculation over Iran's capacity to recover from Israeli and US strikes on its nuclear and military sites during its 12-day war with Israel was addressed on Saturday. UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told CBS News that Iran could produce enriched uranium in a matter of months.
According to France24.com, Grossi stated that despite the damage to several nuclear facilities from US and Israeli attacks, Iran likely will be able to begin producing enriched uranium soon. This statement comes after Israel launched a bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, claiming the goal was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon—an ambition that Iran has consistently denied.
A critical concern is whether Iran managed to relocate its estimated 408.6-kilo (900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks. This uranium is enriched to 60 percent, which is above civilian usage levels but still below weapons grade. If further refined, it could theoretically produce more than nine nuclear bombs. Grossi admitted, "We don’t know where this material could be," indicating uncertainty about its current status.
Grossi elaborated that some of the material might have been destroyed or moved, emphasizing the need for clarification. Meanwhile, Iranian lawmakers have voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, rejecting Grossi's request to visit the damaged sites, including Fordo, the main uranium enrichment facility. Grossi expressed the necessity of verifying the current state and location of the material.
In a separate interview on Fox News's "Sunday Morning Futures," former President Donald Trump expressed skepticism about the stockpile being moved, stating, "It's a very hard thing to do plus we didn’t give much notice. They didn’t move anything."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's support for the IAEA's verification and monitoring efforts in Iran, praising Grossi and his agency for their dedication and professionalism. The full interview with Grossi is set to air on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday.