iran could resume Uranium Enrichment Within Months: IAEA Chief

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned that although several of Iran’s nuclear facilities were damaged by attacks from the United States and Israel, the country could regain its ability to enrich uranium within a few months.On Sunday (29 June), TRT World reported this information.In an interview published by CBS News on Saturday, Grossi said, “Some of their (Iran’s) nuclear facilities are still intact. So I would say they could start spinning a few centrifuges to enrich uranium within a few months—maybe even sooner.”Earlier, on 13 June, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s military, nuclear, and civilian facilities. Israel claimed that the strikes aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Subsequently, the United States also carried out attacks on three critical Iranian nuclear sites.Tehran claims these attacks caused significant damage to its nuclear facilities, but detailed information has not yet been disclosed. Former U.S. President Donald Trump previously claimed that the attacks had set back Iran’s nuclear program “by decades.” However, Grossi stated the situation is not that simple.Iran currently possesses approximately 408.6 kilograms (900 pounds) of highly enriched uranium, enriched up to 60 percent—a level far beyond civilian use but still below the threshold needed for a nuclear weapon. If this uranium is further enriched, it could theoretically produce more than nine nuclear bombs.Grossi said, “We don’t know where these uranium stockpiles are now. Some may have been destroyed in the attacks; some may have been relocated. It is crucial to clarify these issues.”Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament has recently voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. As a result, Grossi has been denied permission to visit Tehran, and the installation of surveillance cameras at nuclear sites—particularly at the main enrichment center in Fordow—has been halted.Grossi said, “We need to go there and verify—what’s there, what happened, how it happened.”Meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News, President Trump claimed, “We gave them very little notice. So I don’t think they were able to move the uranium anywhere.”U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday, “IAEA’s monitoring activities in Iran are extremely important. We commend Grossi and his agency’s professionalism and commitment.”