Unveiling the Tickings of the Iranian Nuclear Clock: A Chat with IAEA Chief Grossi
Iran may resume uranium enrichment activities within the forthcoming months, according to the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Grossi. - Iran may potentially restart uranium enrichment process within a couple of months.
In an off-the-cuff conversation, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief, Rafael Grossi, dropped a bombshell: Iran could swiftly rekindle the flames of uranium enrichment, potentially within a matter of months or even less. The nitty-gritty of what happened to the approximately 408 kilograms of uranium that Iran had already enriched to a whopping 60 percent remains shrouded in mystery. "We're clueless about where this material could've vanished," Grossi admitted candidly. With further refinement, this uranium would be enough to cook up at least nine atomic bombs.
Some speculate that part of this uranium met its demise in the attacks we witnessed back in June. However, it's also hypothesized that some of it might've been swiped under the radar. Grossi shed light on the conundrum in a CBS interview set to air in full on the coming Sunday. The whereabouts of this nuclear material are yet to be unearthed.
The Iranian parliament has decided to sever ties with the IAEA. Tehran attempted to extend an olive branch by requesting IAEA inspectors to tread on the damaged Iranian nuclear facilities. However, this proposition was flat-out rejected.
The drama between Iran and Israel reached an all-time high back in June when Israel launched intense attacks, citing Iran's advanced nuclear and missile programs. Iran retaliated with a barrage of counter-attacks on Israel.
Last week, the USA chimed in, bombing Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on Tuesday after an intense twelve-day skirmish.
The extent of Iran's nuclear program's recovery following these attacks remains a subject of controversy. US media reported, albeit based on a preliminary intelligence report, that the attacks merely delayed Iran's nuclear program by several months and that the infrastructure for enriching uranium and storing enriched uranium had not faced total annihilation. US President Donald Trump dismissed these reports as "fake news," insisting that Iran's nuclear program would be hindered "decades."
Over the weekend, Trump reaffirmed his conviction that Iran did not manage to pull out all their uranium stores before the attacks. "That's quite a task considering the short notice we gave them," Trump asserted, referencing a report published in advance for the Fox News show "Sunday Morning Futures." "They didn't make off with anything."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to Twitter to call for a visit by IAEA inspectors to Iran. Rubio commended Grossi and his team for their "diligence and professionalism" in monitoring Iran's nuclear program.
As of June 2025, Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) tallies up to approximately 408.6 kilograms enriched to 60 percent. Despite the recent airstrikes, most of this uranium remains intact and poses a significant proliferation risk. Further enrichment could yield enough material for more than ten nuclear weapons. The longevity of the IAEA's access to Iran's nuclear facilities has been curtailed since 2021, causing concerns about hidden activities and storage locations for the HEU. It's worth noting that conventional explosives are unable to obliterate enriched uranium, making the material a latent threat even after attacks focusing on infrastructure.
The USA has demanded that Iran surrender all of its highly enriched uranium in exchange for resuming nuclear negotiations, alongside a complete ban on uranium enrichment on Iranian soil and limits on missile production. The persisting inventory of Iran's HEU fanned fears that Tehran could furtively accelerate its nuclear weapons program or potentially develop radiological weapons.
In essence, Iran's 408 kilograms of highly enriched uranium presents a formidable challenge to non-proliferation efforts. If further enriched to weapons-grade levels, it can potentially be used to cook up atomic bombs, making it a focal point of international scrutiny and diplomatic pressure.
- The IAEA chief, Grossi, revealed in a Sunday CBS interview that Iran may resume uranium enrichment within a few months and could potentially possess enough material for more than ten nuclear weapons.
- In light of the recent controversy over the whereabouts of enriched uranium, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for IAEA inspectors to visit Iran to scrutinize Iran's nuclear facilities, commending Grossi and his team for their diligence.
- Despite the recent airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU) remains largely intact, posing a significant proliferation risk, and the longevity of the IAEA's access to these facilities has been curtailed since 2021, causing concerns about hidden activities and storage locations for the HEU.
