Unnerving update highlights Iran's advancing nuclear program
International nuclear agency expresses concern over Iran's atomic activities, stating that verification of their purely peaceful intentions remains uncertain.
Ex-Navy Captain Bob Wells chimes in on Iran's suspected increase in enriched uranium stores.
Iran's evasive conduct towards the United Nations' nuclear observation body, which is tasked with overseeing all nations' nuclear programs, results in the body being unable to confirm whether Tehran's program is purely peaceful, despite the regime's assertions.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi issued a warning statement on Monday, stating that the agency has been denied access to both old and newly established nuclear sites, and that Iran has eliminated evidence of its activities at certain locations.
In 2020, the IAEA stumbled upon traces of enriched uranium at three sites, including Varamin, Marivan, and Turquzabad. These locations were formerly part of Iran's nuclear program, providing the agency with grounds to believe that Tehran had once again turned to menacing nuclear aspirations.
U.S. SANCTIONS AIDING IRAN AS REGIME FACES NUCLEAR REBUKE AT IAEA
Rafael Grossi expresses concern over Iran's nuclear program. (Credit: Albert Otti/picture alliance via Getty Images)
"Ever since then, we've been requesting explanations and clarifications from Iran regarding the presence of these uranium particles, including multiple high-level meetings and consultations that I personally attended," Grossi shared. "Regrettably, Iran has either failed to answer or provided unconvincing responses to the Agency's questions.
"It has also attempted to clean-up the locations, which has obstructed the Agency's verification activities," he added.
Grossi verified during an April trip to Washington, D.C. that the IAEA was not involved in nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, and stated on Monday that he has been working "intensely" with both parties to support their bilateral negotiations.
The warning was issued after the IAEA confirmed in a report towards the end of last month that Iran had drastically expanded its inventory of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium by approximately 35% within three months.
IRAN'S KHAMENEI REFUSES U.S. ZERO URANIUM ENRICHMENT REQUEST
This photograph, released on Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran depicts centrifuge machines at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. (Credit: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, File)
In February, the IAEA estimated that Tehran held 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, but on May 17th it found that Iran now possesses some 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) – meaning the regime is just a technical step away from being able to produce up to 10 nuclear warheads.
Last week, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei flat-out rejected a U.S. proposal to terminate Iran's nuclear program, though the specifics of the proposal, including enrichment capabilities, remain unclear. Furthermore, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared that the proposal did not include any sanction relief.
The White House has remained tight-lipped about the proposal's content, although some media reports suggest that President Trump gave Iran until June 11 to reach an agreement with the U.S. Digital could not independently verify these claims.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that "The U.S. proposal is not acceptable to us. It was not the outcome of previous rounds of negotiations."
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on May 26, 2025. (Credit: Shadati/Xinhua via Getty Images)
A NEW PROPOSAL LIKELY TO BE IRAN'S NEXT MOVE
Some reports suggest that Iran might submit a counter-proposal as early as June 10, although the Iranian UN mission in the U.S. declined to comment on or confirm the claims.
Caitlin McFall is a reporter at Digital covering Politics, U.S., and World news.
- Despite the assertions from Iran's regime, the world news remains unconvinced about the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program, given its evasive conduct towards the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the expansion of its inventory of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium.
- As the Middle East tensions rise, general news also covers ongoing political developments such as the refusal by Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to accept a U.S. proposal to terminate Iran's nuclear program.
- In light of Iran's nuclear ambitions and the ongoing political standoff, medical-conditions involving potential nuclear warheads and their impact on global health become a significant concern for those following science news.
