IAEA Cautions Iran Could Restart High-Level Uranium Enrichment Within Months

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has assessed that Iran retains the industrial and technological capacity to resume uranium enrichment at levels suitable for nuclear weapons production within a few months. 

This evaluation follows recent military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, including the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan facilities. The strikes caused substantial, though not total, damage.

Under the terms of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran had agreed to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67% and to suspend operations at Fordo for 15 years.

Following the United States' withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and the reinstatement of sanctions, Iran began breaching several restrictions, including the resumption of enrichment at Fordo in 2021. Iran has since accumulated enough uranium enriched to 60% purity to potentially produce several nuclear weapons.

A recent internal assessment indicated that the strikes likely delayed Iran’s nuclear programme by a few months but did not dismantle it. Iranian officials have provided inconsistent evaluations of the damage. While some described the impact as minor, others acknowledged it as serious and excessive.

In response to the situation, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA and denied inspectors access to the affected facilities, accusing the agency of bias. The IAEA had recently reported Iran’s non-compliance with nuclear non-proliferation obligations for the first time in two decades.

Although Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is intended solely for civilian purposes, international concerns over its intentions persist. The IAEA has expressed a continued interest in re-establishing diplomatic dialogue to seek a long-term resolution.

Source: BBC, CBS News.