Iran May Resume Uranium Enrichment for Weapons Within Months, Warns UN Chief

Grossi indicates Iran's capabilities while highlighting unresolved tensions between Tehran, the US, and Israel.

Iran is on the brink of potentially recommencing uranium enrichment for nuclear weapons, according to the head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi. Speaking to CBS News, Grossi emphasized that Iran retains the capability to activate its uranium enrichment process "in a matter of months." This statement follows a series of US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last weekend, which Grossi claimed caused significant yet not complete destruction of critical sites.

Despite former President Donald Trump's assertion that these strikes had "completely destroyed" Iran's nuclear capabilities, Grossi rebutted that narrative, stating, "one cannot claim that everything has disappeared." Following the aerial bombardments, locations like Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan remain operational, implying that Iran may swiftly resume activities related to bomb production.

Additionally, a preliminary intelligence report from the Pentagon suggested that the damage inflicted by the attacks would only delay Iran's nuclear ambitions by a few months rather than end them. Grossi expressed concerns about the extent of damage and mentioned that Iran possesses the industrial and technological means to resume uranium enrichment should its leadership decide to do so.

As tensions rise, a fragile ceasefire currently exists between Iran and Israel. Nonetheless, Trump has indicated a willingness to consider additional strikes if Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities escalate. Iran's armed forces chief, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has stated that they do not trust Israel to abide by the ceasefire, warning of a potential military response if sorted again.

While Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claims the strikes were inconsequential, a different narrative from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that the damage was severe. The Iranian parliament has also moved to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), further complicating relations. Tehran has rejected requests from the IAEA for inspections of the impacted sites, leading to concerns over transparency.

Under a 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was limited to enriching uranium for civilian purposes and prohibited from exceeding a 3.67% enrichment threshold. However, after the US exited the agreements and reinstated sanctions, Iran resumed operations at higher purity levels, collecting enough 60%-enriched uranium for the equivalent of nine nuclear bombs according to the IAEA. In light of escalating tensions, Grossi reaffirms his hope for diplomatic engagement, highlighting that a peaceful resolution remains paramount.