The head of the IAEA highlights the potential for Iran to rapidly resume uranium enrichment, citing recent military strikes and Iran's fluctuating response to international oversight.
**Iran's Nuclear Aspirations Raise Alarms as IAEA Chief Signals Potential Enrichment Resumption**
**Iran's Nuclear Aspirations Raise Alarms as IAEA Chief Signals Potential Enrichment Resumption**
Rafael Grossi warns that Iran could initiate uranium enrichment for bomb-making within months amidst ongoing tensions.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has expressed grave concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities, revealing that the nation could resume uranium enrichment for potential bomb development in just "a matter of months." This warning comes in the aftermath of recent military strikes coordinated by Israel and the United States, aimed at Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, which have raised questions about the effectiveness of these military actions.
Grossi criticized former President Donald Trump's claim that the strikes had completely obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities, asserting that substantial components remain intact. He remarked on CBS News that Iran still possesses the necessary technology and industrial capacity to restart enrichment, despite significant damage incurred during the airstrikes. This follows a Pentagon assessment indicating that the military response may have only momentarily delayed Iran's nuclear advancement efforts.
While Israel has announced a ceasefire with Iran, tensions remain high, with Trump indicating a willingness to conduct additional strikes if intelligence suggests that Iran could enrich uranium to concerning levels. Conversely, Iranian leadership has delivered mixed messages regarding the aftermath of the strikes, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplaying the impact while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged serious damage.
In light of these developments, Iran’s relations with the IAEA are deteriorating; earlier this week, Iran's parliament voted to limit cooperation with the agency, alleging bias towards the US and Israel. The IAEA recently found Iran to be in violation of its non-proliferation treaty obligations for the first time in two decades, further exacerbating the situation.
Under the original 2015 nuclear agreement, which was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018, Iran's uranium enrichment was restricted to 3.67% purity. However, Iran has since resumed enrichment activities at its Fordo facility and accumulated resources that could potentially allow for the production of multiple nuclear bombs—a scenario that Grossi and other international analysts view with concern.
Despite the evident obstacles, Grossi remains hopeful for diplomatic resolutions, emphasizing the need for negotiations with Iran to ensure long-term solutions to the nuclear conflict. As the world watches closely, the developments in Iran's nuclear program remain a pivotal issue for global security and diplomacy.
