Recent comments from an Israeli official suggest Iran could access enriched uranium buried beneath its nuclear sites, despite significant damage from US airstrikes in June.
US Strikes on Iranian Facilities Could Leave Enriched Uranium Accessible, Israeli Official Claims
US Strikes on Iranian Facilities Could Leave Enriched Uranium Accessible, Israeli Official Claims
A senior Israeli official warns that Iran might retrieve enriched uranium from damaged nuclear sites following the recent US airstrikes.
Israel has expressed concern that Iran could potentially recover enriched uranium following recent US airstrikes that targeted three of its nuclear facilities, as indicated by a senior Israeli official. The official, speaking to US reporters on the condition of anonymity, explained that while Iran has likely buried much of the enriched uranium at the Isfahan facility, extracting it would prove challenging and might provoke additional Israeli military action. Former President Donald Trump has claimed that the US strikes "obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities. However, this claim is met with skepticism by some US intelligence agencies, which suggest that, despite heavy damage, the facilities were not completely destroyed.
The Israeli official indicated that recent intelligence assessments suggest Iran's nuclear program has been set back by roughly two years due to the airstrikes. Contrarily, Trump's administration has taken a firm stance, asserting that the attacks rendered the sites inoperative and increased global safety. Reports indicate that the US Defense Intelligence Agency's assessment is more nuanced, indicating significant damage rather than total annihilation of the facilities located at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
Furthermore, CIA Director John Ratcliffe underscored that the destruction of the only facility producing metallic uranium drastically diminished Iran's potential to develop nuclear weapons. In contrast, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi stated in an interview that while the strikes severely damaged the sites, they were not completely erased. Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian commented that the facilities are currently inaccessible, complicating any thorough assessment of damages.
As tensions persist, the global community watches closely as the political dynamics in the region continue to evolve, particularly in relation to Iran’s nuclear pursuits and Israel's steadfast opposition to its ambitions.
