The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said in an interview that the agency has satellite images showing the consequences of the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and that it is still collecting new information.
IAEA inspections in Isfahan were interrupted in June last year, when Israel launched a 12-day war, during which the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities. According to the agency’s estimates, a large part of the highly enriched uranium was then stored at that very location and, it is believed, is still there today.
“We can’t confirm it by inspection, but we can’t deny that the material is still there, along with the IAEA seals. This is our best estimate,” Grossi said.
Satellite images show that shortly before the start of the conflict in June 2025, a truck carrying 18 blue containers, believed to contain highly enriched uranium, was brought into the tunnel at the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. It is assumed that these containers are still in the same location.
According to IAEA data, Iran has about 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, which is only a technical step to the level of 90 percent needed to make nuclear weapons. Grossi previously warned that this amount could be enough to produce up to ten nuclear bombs, should Iran decide to militarize its program.
Some of that material, about 200 kilograms, is allegedly stored in tunnels in Isfahan.
Iran, however, has maintained for years that its nuclear program is exclusively of a peacetime nature. US President Donald Trump pointed out that one of the main reasons for US military intervention was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, although he previously claimed that the attacks had “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear program.
Inspections and diplomatic challenges
The IAEA wants to renew inspections not only at Isfahan but also at other key facilities, such as Natanz and Fordo, where nuclear material is also stored.
Iran is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which obliges it to cooperate with the IAEA and facilitate inspections. However, due to the security situation, surveillance is currently limited.
Grossi also revealed that talks have been held with Russia and other countries about the possibility of moving Iran’s highly enriched uranium out of the country. Such a move would be extremely complex and would require political agreement or a major military operation.
Trump confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had offered to help resolve the issue, but stressed that Russia should be more focused on ending the war in Ukraine.
Negotiations stalled
Negotiations between the US and Iran face serious obstacles. Iran’s latest proposal — which included delaying nuclear talks in exchange for lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war — was rejected by Washington.
According to Grossi, today’s situation is much more complex than in 2015, when Iran had a much smaller nuclear program. Meanwhile, there has been “exponential progress” in uranium enrichment, the development of centrifuges and the construction of new facilities.
In order to reach an agreement, Grossi points out, a strong political will is needed on both sides.
“Iran must be convinced that negotiations are necessary. There is interest in both Tehran and Washington, but the problem is that they cannot agree on the first steps,” he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran was trying to buy time and stressed that any future agreement must clearly prevent the possibility of developing nuclear weapons at any time.
(Vijesti.ba)
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