Israel Claims Iran May Recover Enriched Uranium After US Strikes, Heightening Tensions
An Israeli official has suggested that Iran might be able to retrieve enriched uranium stored at one of its nuclear facilities, even after significant damage from recent US-led strikes. The official, speaking anonymously to US reporters, indicated that any attempt by Iran to access the buried material at the Isfahan facility would likely be detected and could prompt further retaliatory actions from Israel.
The remarks come amid ongoing international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program. While Iran maintains that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes, international bodies and several nations, including Israel and the United States, have expressed concerns about its potential to develop nuclear weapons. The senior Israeli official stated that the nuclear program has been set back by approximately two years as a result of the strikes, which targeted facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordo.
The extent of the damage caused by the strikes, codenamed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” has been a subject of differing assessments. Former US President Donald Trump and his administration have asserted that the strikes completely destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, with White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly emphasizing that the world is safer due to his decisive leadership. However, some US intelligence agencies and international observers have offered a more cautious view. A preliminary report from the Defense Intelligence Agency indicated that while the sites sustained heavy damage, they were not entirely obliterated.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe previously informed US lawmakers that the destruction of a key facility for producing metallic uranium had effectively halted Iran’s capability to build a nuclear weapon. Similarly, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, noted in an interview with CBS that while the targeted sites were “destroyed to an important degree,” some parts remain functional. Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian acknowledged in a recent interview that the facilities were “severely damaged” and that a comprehensive assessment is currently not possible.
The situation remains a focal point of international relations, with continuous monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities and its adherence to international agreements. The potential for Iran to recover and reconstitute its nuclear capabilities, particularly concerning enriched uranium, remains a significant concern for global security.