IAEA Report Contradicts US Claims, States Iran Could Produce Uranium Again in a Few Months
VIENNA – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Saturday released a crucial report highlighting the condition of Iran's nuclear program following the US military attack. The conclusions of the report are shocking and directly contradict the claims of success from the White House: Iran is estimated to be able to resume producing enriched uranium in just "a matter of months".
This report is the result of the first damage assessment conducted by IAEA inspectors at the Iranian nuclear facilities targeted by the attack, including the underground sites at Fordow and Natanz. According to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, despite visible damage, the core infrastructure for uranium enrichment has not been completely destroyed.
"Their technical and intellectual capabilities remain intact," said a diplomat familiar with the contents of the report. "This is a matter of repair and reinstallation, not building from scratch."
The IAEA findings deal a serious blow to the narrative of "total victory" touted by President Trump's administration following the "Midnight Hammer" operation. This report reinforces the assessment from parts of the US intelligence community that previously leaked, stating that the attack merely succeeded in delaying, not stopping, Iran's nuclear program.
With the release of this report, the international community is now faced with the reality that the threat of nuclear proliferation in Iran has not disappeared, but rather has only been temporarily delayed. This will add urgency and new complexities to diplomatic efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire.