Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), indicated that Iran could enhance its uranium enrichment capabilities significantly within months. Tensions are escalating as opposition to Iran’s nuclear program deepens. Recent military strikes targeting its facilities have added to this confusion.
In this exclusive interview on “Face the Nation” with Margaret Brennan, Grossi sounds the alarm about Iran’s nuclear facilities. Her interview will be featured this Sunday, launching crucial conversations concerning nuclear safety. He mentioned that some damage remains undetermined. “We don’t know where this material could be,” Grossi stated, highlighting the challenges faced by the IAEA in monitoring and verifying Iran’s nuclear activities.
The IAEA chief called attention to the gravity of the destruction at these sites but stopped short of revealing specific information. Despite the agency’s efforts, Grossi noted, “So some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved. So there has to be at some point a clarification.” His September 2022 call for an inspection of damaged facilities—including Fordow, Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility—was greeted with silence. However, Tehran has rejected this request.
This uranium has been enriched to 60% purity. This level is more than permitted for civilian use. It stops short of being weapons-grade. If fully developed, it could in principle produce sufficient fissile material for well over nine nuclear bombs. Grossi cautioned, “They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that.”
The thing has deteriorated after Israel’s bombing campaign targeted Iranian Nuclear and Military facilities in June 13. Afterward, the United States focused on three major facilities linked to Tehran’s nuclear program. In reaction to these developments, Iranian parliamentarians approved a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi admitted the extent of the damage was serious, but noted that specific details are still not yet clear.
In a follow-on statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio lauded Grossi and the IAEA. I welcomed that he praised their commitment and professionalism in overseeing Iran’s nuclear program. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump remarked on the situation, stating that Iran’s nuclear program had been set back “decades” but acknowledged the difficulties in assessing the current state of their operations: “It’s a very hard thing to do plus we didn’t give much notice. They didn’t move anything.