Iran could restore its uranium enrichment program within months despite recent US and Israeli airstrikes, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has said, casting doubt on claims that Tehran’s nuclear capabilities were completely destroyed.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told CBS News that Iran retains the technical and industrial capacity to restart nuclear enrichment activities at key sites targeted in the coordinated strikes. “If they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again,” he said.
His comments contradict former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Iran’s facilities had been “totally obliterated” during the joint strikes earlier in June. Grossi said that while the strikes had caused “severe” damage to the Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites, they were not “completely destroyed.”
Damage Control and Mixed Signals
The strikes, launched by Israel on 13 June and joined shortly after by US forces, were a response to claims that Iran was approaching weapons-grade uranium enrichment. Yet Grossi’s assessment, along with a leaked US Department of Defense report, suggests the military action may have only delayed Tehran’s nuclear progress by a few months.
Iran has sent mixed messages regarding the extent of the damage. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei downplayed the attacks, calling them strategically insignificant, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the impact as “excessive and serious.”
Tensions with the IAEA Escalate
Tehran’s already-tense relationship with the IAEA worsened last week after the Iranian parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the agency, accusing it of bias toward Israel and the US. In response to Grossi’s requests to inspect the bombed facilities, Araghchi criticized the IAEA’s “insistence,” calling it “meaningless and possibly even malign.”
Despite the strained ties, Grossi stressed the need for diplomacy. “At the end of the day, this whole thing, after the military strikes, will have to have a long-lasting solution, which cannot be but a diplomatic one,” he said.
The Fallout of a Collapsed Nuclear Deal
Under the 2015 nuclear deal with global powers, Iran agreed to strict limits on uranium enrichment and use of specific nuclear sites, including a 3.67% enrichment cap and a 15-year moratorium on activities at Fordo. However, the agreement began to unravel in 2018 when Trump unilaterally withdrew the US and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
In response, Iran gradually ramped up its enrichment program. According to the IAEA, by 2021, Iran had resumed uranium enrichment at Fordo and stockpiled enough 60%-enriched uranium to potentially build nine nuclear weapons, well above the threshold for civilian use.
Looking Ahead
Though a temporary ceasefire is in place between Israel and Iran, tensions remain high. Trump has signaled that further military action is on the table if intelligence points to renewed enrichment activity.
While Grossi’s remarks underscore the resilience of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, they also highlight the limitations of military solutions. With diplomatic channels under strain and Tehran resisting international oversight, the future of nuclear non-proliferation in the region remains uncertain.
