Iran could resume enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels within a matter of months, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has warned, raising fresh global concerns over the country’s nuclear ambitions following recent military strikes by Israel and the United States.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told CBS 타이산카지노 that despite recent bombings of key nuclear sites, Iran retains the technological and industrial capacity to restart its uranium enrichment program. “If they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again,” Grossi said, adding that Iran could soon have “a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium.”
The remarks come in the wake of coordinated airstrikes earlier this month. On June 13, Israel launched attacks on suspected nuclear and military facilities in Iran, claiming the Islamic Republic was nearing the threshold of building a nuclear weapon. Days later, the U.S. joined the offensive, targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites: Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has since taken a leading role in supporting the strikes, claimed the facilities had been “totally obliterated.” However, Grossi contradicted that assertion, saying the damage was “severe but not total.”
“Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there,” Grossi said.
His comments echo a leaked preliminary Pentagon assessment earlier this week, which suggested the U.S. strikes may have only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, rather than causing lasting disruption.
While some intelligence assessments are still pending, Grossi’s warning adds urgency to diplomatic and military discussions in the region.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high despite a ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel. On Sunday, Iran’s Chief of Armed Forces, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, cast doubt on Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire.
“We did not start the war, but we have responded to the aggressor with all our power,” Mousavi told state television. “As we have serious doubts over the enemy's compliance with its commitments, including the ceasefire, we are ready to respond with force if attacked again.”
Trump, in a fiery response to media scrutiny, defended the strikes and said he would “absolutely” consider bombing Iran again if intelligence suggested uranium enrichment was reaching dangerous levels.
With the region on edge and the status of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure under intense scrutiny, the international community now faces the challenge of preventing a renewed nuclear escalation in one of the world's most volatile geopolitical flashpoints.
