A senior Israeli official suggests that Iran could reclaim buried enriched uranium from a facility damaged in US strikes last month, although challenges remain in accessing it. This situation has led to debates over the effectiveness of military interventions and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Potential Recovery of Enriched Uranium in Iran Raises Concerns for Global Security
Potential Recovery of Enriched Uranium in Iran Raises Concerns for Global Security
An Israeli official warns of Iran's capability to retrieve enriched uranium in light of recent US military strikes on nuclear sites, raising alarm about nuclear proliferation.
A senior Israeli official has publicly raised the possibility that Iran could retrieve buried enriched uranium from its nuclear facility in Isfahan, which was one of three sites struck by US military operations on June 22. This statement follows assertions from the US government, attributed to former President Donald Trump, claiming that the strikes, dubbed "Operation Midnight Hammer," had effectively obliterated Iran's capacity for nuclear weapons development. The official, who requested anonymity, highlighted the difficulties in accessing the uranium, suggesting that any Iranian efforts to do so would likely invoke renewed military responses from Israel.
While Israeli intelligence holds the view that Iran's nuclear program has been delayed by approximately two years due to the strikes, the former president's narrative of total destruction has been met with skepticism from US intelligence agencies. Leaked reports indicate that while significant damage was inflicted on the sites at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, they were not completely neutralized. CIA Director John Ratcliffe supported the notion that the bombing took away Iran's ability to create metallic uranium, but also acknowledged the resilience of the remaining infrastructure.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi commented on the damage, noting that although substantial portions of the facilities remain intact, post-strike assessments of the full extent of their condition are challenging. Echoing this sentiment, Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian claimed that the facilities had indeed been "severely damaged," impeding access to them for the time being.
This ongoing situation underscores the complexities and unpredictable nature of geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear ambitions while highlighting growing worries about the implications for global security given the potential for the recovery of enriched uranium.
