There is growing speculation that a significant portion of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium may have survived the recent coordinated military strikes by Israel and the United States, according to the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), suggested on Wednesday that Iran may have taken precautionary steps to shield its most sensitive nuclear materials in the early stages of the conflict.
During a joint press conference with Austrian government officials in Vienna, Grossi explained that Iran had informed the IAEA on June 13 — the very day Israeli airstrikes on Iranian territory began — that it was implementing what it described as “special measures” to protect its nuclear assets, including enriched uranium and technical equipment essential to its nuclear program.
While Tehran did not specify the nature of these measures, Grossi said it is reasonable to infer that this involved moving or concealing the country’s most valuable materials before they could be destroyed.
“They didn’t go into detail about what these special measures entailed,” Grossi said, “but the implication was clear — they were taking steps to ensure the safety of their nuclear stockpile.
We have reason to believe that at least some, if not much, of the enriched uranium could still be secure within Iran’s territory.”
The comment comes amid widespread uncertainty about the true extent of the damage inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure during the 12-day conflict.
Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple known nuclear sites across Iran, and the United States followed up with powerful airstrikes on underground facilities over the weekend.
However, neither country has released verifiable data on how much uranium — particularly the stock enriched to near-weapons grade — was destroyed or rendered unusable.
Grossi underscored that without independent verification by IAEA inspectors, it is impossible to draw definitive conclusions about the current status of Iran’s nuclear stockpile.
No IAEA inspections have taken place since hostilities began, and access to key facilities remains suspended. He emphasized that restoring the agency’s ability to inspect and monitor Iran’s nuclear program is now his top diplomatic and operational priority.
“For us to fully assess the damage, verify the location and quantity of remaining material, and ensure compliance with safeguards, we urgently need access. Returning our inspectors to Iran’s nuclear facilities is critical,” he said.
However, that goal has hit a fresh obstacle. On the same day Grossi made his remarks, the Iranian parliament passed legislation endorsing the suspension of international inspections — a move widely viewed as a retaliatory step against Western military action and pressure.
This legislative endorsement formalizes Tehran’s freeze on cooperation with the IAEA, at least for the time being, and complicates efforts to re-establish oversight.
At the heart of international concern is Iran’s growing stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity, just short of the 90% threshold typically used in weapons-grade material.
While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful and civilian purposes, the IAEA has noted that no country in the world has ever enriched uranium to such a high level without eventually building nuclear weapons.
Western powers have repeatedly challenged Iran’s assertion of peaceful intent, arguing that there is no viable civilian justification for enrichment at such levels.
They warn that continued accumulation of such material narrows the so-called “breakout time” — the time Iran would need to build a nuclear weapon if it chose to do so — to mere weeks or even days.
According to the IAEA’s most recent quarterly report, released on May 31, Iran possessed enough uranium enriched to 60% to potentially construct nine nuclear bombs, assuming further enrichment to weapons-grade levels.
The report also stated that Iran has additional stocks enriched to lower levels, including 20% and 5%, which could also be used in a weapons program if further processed.
Grossi described the international nuclear situation as entering a perilous new phase, warning that without transparency and access, the world is essentially operating in the dark. He urged all stakeholders to prioritize de-escalation and resume dialogue.
“We’re dealing with an hourglass approach,” he said metaphorically. “Time is running out. The longer the IAEA is kept out of the picture, the more opaque and unpredictable this situation becomes. That’s dangerous for everyone — not just in the region, but globally.”
As tensions remain high and negotiations uncertain, the fate of Iran’s nuclear program and the international community’s ability to monitor it hang in a precarious balance.
(Reuters)
