Rafael Grossi, the chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, said on sunday (June 29, 2025) that iran can produce enriched uranium in a few months. This has raised doubts about whether US attacks have been effective in destroying Tehran's nuclear sites.
According to a Reuters report, US officials said their attacks have destroyed Iran's major nuclear sites, although US President donald trump said on friday that he would consider bombing iran again if Tehran enriches uranium to worrying levels.
'No one can claim that everything is over'
Grossi said in an interview to CBS news that the capabilities they (Iran) have are there. You know, in a few months, I would say they can produce enriched uranium by turning a few cascades of centrifuges, or even less. He further said that to be honest, no one can claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there.
On the Face the Nation show aired on sunday with Margaret Brennan, he said that he wanted to eliminate any possibility of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. israel launched attacks on iran earlier this month, leading to 12 days of air strikes on each other and eventually the US also joined in.
What did Grossi say about the removal of Iran's uranium reserves?
At the same time, iran says that their nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. Grossi, the head of the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that the attacks on sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan have significantly pushed back Iran's ability to convert and enrich uranium.
Grossi was also asked about reports that iran had moved its stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the US attacks. Responding to this, Grossi said that some may have been destroyed during the attack, but some may have also been moved.
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