Iran’s current stockpile of enriched uranium is around 400kg (~882 pounds). This figure has become an imperative point of emphasis for lawmakers, particularly in light of the recent military strikes ordered by the United States. JD Vance, a U.S. Senator, voiced concerns that despite the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, the stockpile may still be intact and poses a potential threat.
The U.S. military targeted several key nuclear facilities in an attempt to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. The targeting of these locations, Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, was significant. Taken together, these sites were thought to be the backbone of Iran’s enrichment capabilities. Isfahan has a specialized facility that changes uranium into a form suitable for use in centrifuges. This makes it an often-overlooked key component of the enrichment process.
Despite the massive damage done to these facilities, we’re now hearing from local reports that Iran has likely moved its entire stockpile elsewhere. Vance said that the bombing campaign would serve the purpose of preventing Iran from enriching uranium to a weapons-grade level. He told them how it could have been at least a qualified success.
“The goal was to bury the uranium, and I do think the uranium is buried,” – JD Vance.
Vance said the extensive, heavy physical damage done to the sites was shocking. The critical issue is can that uranium be enriched to weapon-grade levels. His point was that the real question is not so much where uranium is found. Rather than just focusing on stopping additional enrichment, it’s important to do more.
As Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), observed, that’s missing the fundamental point. His inspectors only checked the fuel a week earlier than Israel made its first moves against Iranian installations. He reiterated the point that Iran has shipped at least a portion of its enriched uranium stockpiles. Their current status is unknown.
“Iran has made no secret that they have protected this material,” – Rafael Grossi.
David Albright, a nuclear proliferation expert, struck a note of cautious optimism about the situation. He stated, “I think that part of the mission has been accomplished,” referring to the objective of limiting Iran’s enrichment capabilities. He acknowledged that challenges remain.
“Stocks of enriched uranium are one of them. I wish those stocks were buried, but our understanding is that some of them were taken away by Iran, and we don’t know where they are,” – David Albright.
Albright went on personally to state that the problem isn’t solved but it’s still overcomable. He added that the process of turning enriched uranium into weapons-grade material isn’t an immediate one.
In today’s conversations, Vance continued on making the case that Secretary Yoon should meet with Iranian officials in the near future to negotiate a reduction of their uranium inventories. And as BuzzFeed points out, he underscored the U.S. commitment to make sure that Iran does not step up its enrichment activities.
“We are going to work in the coming weeks to ensure that we do something with that fuel and that’s one of the things that we’re going to have conversations with the Iranians about,” – JD Vance.