The leader of the UN’s nuclear oversight body has stated that the recent US military actions against Iran did not entirely eliminate Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, cautioning that Iran might restart uranium enrichment "within a few months."
This directly contradicts former President Donald Trump’s ongoing assertions that the strikes have significantly hindered Iran’s nuclear ambitions for decades.
Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), pointed out that although the strikes inflicted considerable damage, Iran’s industrial and technological framework remains mostly undamaged.
"They could, in a few months, have several cascades of centrifuges operational and producing enriched uranium," Grossi informed CBS. "It is evident that there has been substantial damage, but it is not complete damage."
Grossi’s comments are consistent with preliminary evaluations from the US Defense Intelligence Agency, which suggest that the attacks on vital Iranian nuclear facilities likely postponed the program by merely a few months.
The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran commenced when Israel initiated strikes it claimed were intended to stop Tehran from advancing its nuclear weapon development. Iran insists that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes. Subsequently, the US targeted three essential Iranian nuclear locations before a ceasefire was established.
In spite of Trump’s claims that nothing was moved prior to the strikes, early Pentagon reports suggested that Iran might have shifted some enriched uranium. Grossi remarked, "It’s reasonable to assume that when they declare protective measures, this could be part of it. However, we are uncertain about the whereabouts of this material."
Grossi also stressed that the IAEA had not found proof of an active Iranian nuclear weapons program but had persistent unanswered inquiries regarding traces of enriched uranium discovered at undeclared sites. "We were simply not receiving credible responses," he said.