US split over destiny of Iran’s enriched uranium following attacks
(MENAFN) US intelligence officials remain split over what has happened to Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile following recent airstrikes by the US and Israel on key Iranian nuclear sites, the New York Times reported Thursday.
The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched attacks on Iran, alleging Tehran was nearing nuclear weapon capability—a claim denied by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and US intelligence. The US joined the strikes on June 22, targeting several nuclear facilities. A Washington-brokered ceasefire came into effect Tuesday and has held so far.
President Donald Trump claimed the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. However, US intelligence and international watchdogs indicate that while damaged, Iran’s ability to restart its nuclear program likely remains intact.
Intelligence assessments vary regarding the fate of Iran’s enriched uranium, partly due to conflicting information from Iranian officials, according to US sources. The Natanz facility, believed to house some of the uranium, was damaged but not destroyed during the strikes.
Due to limited access and mixed intelligence, the US has yet to determine precisely how much enriched uranium Iran still possesses. After a classified Senate briefing, some Republican lawmakers emphasized that destroying or confiscating the uranium stockpile was not a goal of the strikes.
There is also debate about where the uranium was primarily stored—Trump cited Fordow, others pointed to Natanz, while the IAEA reported most was at Isfahan, which hosts various nuclear operations. Some experts think the stockpile was dispersed across multiple sites.
IAEA Director Rafael Grossi said Iranian officials told inspectors they would move the material if it was under threat. The uranium containers are reportedly small enough to fit into a car trunk. Surveillance footage before the US strike on Isfahan showed vehicles moving materials in and out of labs.
Grossi expressed doubt that all uranium was moved but believes a significant portion remains in Iran’s possession. “The evidence points to their moving out a lot of it,” he said.
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