Vienna: Iran has the capacity to start enriching uranium again for a possible bomb in "a matter of months," according to Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This revelation comes in the wake of US military strikes on three Iranian sites last weekend, which Grossi stated caused significant but not complete damage, challenging former President Donald Trump's claim that Iran's nuclear facilities were "totally obliterated."
According to BBC, Grossi told CBS News that Tehran could have "in a matter of months... a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium." He emphasized that Iran still holds the "industrial and technological capacities" to resume its nuclear activities if it so desires. This statement aligns with a leaked preliminary Pentagon assessment earlier this week, which suggested the US strikes probably only set the program back by a few months.
The situation remains tense as Trump responded by asserting that Iran's nuclear sites were "completely destroyed" and criticized media outlets for what he termed an attempt to undermine the success of the military strikes. Despite a current ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel, Trump has stated he would consider further military action if intelligence indicated Iran's uranium enrichment reached concerning levels.
In contrast, Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, expressed skepticism regarding Israel's adherence to the ceasefire, warning of a strong response if Iran is attacked again. Meanwhile, conflicting reports from Iran depict varying assessments of the damage caused by the strikes. While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplayed the impact, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the damage as "excessive and serious."
The relationship between Iran and the IAEA is further strained as Iran's parliament moved to suspend cooperation with the agency, accusing it of bias towards Israel and the US. Tehran has refused the IAEA's request to inspect the damaged facilities, with Araghchi criticizing Grossi's insistence on visiting the sites.
Israel and the US launched the attack following the IAEA's findings last month that Tehran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years. While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and for civilian use, the tension surrounding its nuclear capabilities persists.
Grossi remains hopeful for diplomatic negotiations with Iran despite the current stalemate. He emphasized the need for a long-term diplomatic solution to the crisis, especially in light of the military strikes. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was restricted from enriching uranium above 3.67% purity, but since the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, Iran has increasingly violated these terms, amassing enough enriched uranium to potentially create multiple nuclear bombs, according to the IAEA.