Iran could again enrich uranium ‘in matter of months’: IAEA chief

Washington(National Times)- Israel launched a bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, saying it was aimed at keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon — an ambition the Islamic republic has consistently denied. The United States subsequently bombed three key facilities used for Tehran’s atomic program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the extent of the damage to the nuclear sites is “serious,” but the details are unknown. US President Donald Trump insisted Iran’s nuclear program had been set back “decades.” But Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said “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 Friday, according to a transcript of the interview released Saturday. Another key question is whether Iran was able to relocate some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilo (900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks. The uranium in question is enriched to 60 percent — above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs. Grossi admitted 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 voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA and Tehran rejected Grossi’s request for a visit to the damaged sites, especially Fordo, the main 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 Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” program, Trump said he did not think the stockpile had been moved. “It’s a very hard thing to do plus we didn’t give much notice,” he said, according to excerpts of the interview. “They didn’t move anything.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday underscored Washington’s support for “the IAEA’s critical verification and monitoring efforts in Iran,” commending Grossi and his agency for their “dedication and professionalism.” The full Grossi interview will air on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Sunday.



Latest News
World leaders extend greetings to Pakistan on Independence Day, hail bilateral ties
Pakistan’s leadership stresses need for unity, reforms as nation celebrates Independence Day
Balochistan home minister unhurt as convoy comes under attack in Mastung
Afghan soil being used against Pakistan, Naqvi tells Norway FM as two discuss counterterrorism cooperation
2 dead, 94 injured in celebratory aerial firing incidents in Karachi on Independence Day eve
Cop martyred, another injured in terrorist attack on police post in Bajaur
Ex-Sindh minister seeks FIR against ex-wife over AI-edited pictures
Pakistan, Norway reaffirm resolve to strengthen bilateral ties, expand engagement in defence and security




Multi Media   
Pakistan Exposes India’s Human Rights Record in IIOJK at UNHRC
 Multi Media
2025 in Review: A Year of Impact and Progress in Brussels
 Multi Media
DPM-FM Senator Ishaq Dar’s High-Level Brussels Visit: Key Highlights
 Multi Media
Embassy of Pakistan 🇵🇰 in Brussels || Quarterly Recap of Activities, Engagements & Outreach
 Multi Media
DPM Dar sends Trump peace prize nomination to Nobel Committee