IAEA Chief Says Iran Likely to Resume Nuclear Program within Months Following Airstrikes

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The head of the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said Iran could potentially begin producing enriched uranium "in a matter of months," despite damage to several nuclear facilities due to U.S. and Israeli attacks, CBS News reported on Saturday, as cited by CNA.

Israel launched unprecedented bombing on Iran's nuclear and military sites on June 13, claiming it was aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, an ambition consistently denied by the Islamic republic.

The United States then bombed three key facilities used for Tehran's atomic program.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the level of damage to the nuclear sites was "serious," but its details are unknown. U.S. President Donald Trump insisted that Iran's nuclear program had suffered a setback of "decades."

However, Grossi asserted that "some is still standing."

"They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that," Grossi said according to a transcript of the interview released on Saturday.

Another key question is whether Iran is capable of relocating some or all of its estimated 408.6 kg of uranium stockpile before the attacks.

The referred uranium is enriched to 60 percent—above the level for civilian use but still below weapon grade. The material, if further refined, theoretically would be enough to produce over nine nuclear bombs.

Grossi confessed to CBS, "We don't know where this material could be. So some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved. So there has to be at some point a clarification," he said in the interview.

For now, Iranian lawmakers opted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA and Tehran rejected Grossi's request to visit the damaged sites, especially Fordow, a major uranium enrichment facility.

"We need to be in a position to ascertain, to confirm what is there, and where is it and what happened,"  Grossi said.

In a separate interview with 'Sunday Morning Futures' on Fox News, Trump said he did not think the weapons stockpile had been moved.

Editor’s Choice: What US Joining Israel's War with Iran Means for the World

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

What US Joining Israel's War with Iran Means for the World

2 jam lalu

Grandfather of MI6's New Boss Turns Out to Be a Nazi Stooge, Nicknamed the Butcher

2 jam lalu

Iran Bans IAEA Chief from Entering Its Territory for Nuclear Monitoring

6 jam lalu

Trump Denies Plan to Help Iran Access $30 Billion for Civilian Nuclear Program

14 jam lalu

Iran Holds State Funeral for Top Brass Slain in War with Israel

15 jam lalu

6 Indonesians Evacuated from Iran Arrive in Jakarta

16 jam lalu

Today's Top 3 News: Why Is Mount Rinjani a Risky Climb for Beginners? Expert Explains

17 jam lalu

Trump Claims Gaza Ceasefire Deal Expected Next Week

1 hari lalu

What Is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Why Does Iran Want to Leave It?

1 hari lalu

Prabowo and Anwar Issue Joint Statement on Iran-Israel Conflict

1 hari lalu